Troops Crack Down on Economic Saboteurs, Recover Over 80,000 Litres of Stolen Products
By Lawrence Bilal Audu
In what can best be described as a significant blow to economic saboteurs, troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have sustained their crackdown on illegal activities in the Niger Delta Region. The operations, which took place from November 18 to 24, 2024, yielded impressive results, with the recovery of over 80,000 litres of stolen products.
The troops, working closely with other security agencies, conducted several operations across the Joint Operations Area (JOA), targeting illegal refining sites, oil thieves, and other economic saboteurs. The operations led to the deactivation of 34 illegal refining sites, the arrest of 11 suspected oil thieves, and the recovery of over 80,650 litres of stolen products.
In one operation, troops discovered and deactivated eight illegal refining sites in Buguma Creeks, Asari-Toru Local Government Area, with over 25,000 litres of stolen products handled. In another operation, troops intercepted a wooden boat stocked with over 6,000 litres of condensate in the same area.
The troops also conducted operations in Bayelsa State, where they intercepted a wooden boat loaded with over 2,500 litres of stolen products. In Delta State, troops intercepted over 2,500 litres of stolen products stored in a tank within the premises of Lamiel Hotel and Suites.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, commended the troops for their resilience and assured that the Division would continue to sustain the ongoing operations to ensure an increase in oil and gas production.
The operations are part of the Nigerian Army’s efforts to tackle the menace of oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta Region. With the recovery of over 80,000 litres of stolen products, the troops have sent a strong message to economic saboteurs that their activities will no longer be tolerated.
