Subscribe: Gist E-Paper
The Defence Headquarters has said troops of Operation DELTA SAFE destroyed 104 illegal refining sites and recovered more than 1.61 million litres of petroleum products across the Niger Delta in the third quarter of 2026.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the Defence Headquarters’ third-quarter media briefing.
Onoja said the operations, conducted mainly in Bayelsa, Edo and Rivers states, also led to the arrest of 181 suspects involved in oil theft, illegal refining, kidnapping and other forms of organised criminality.
According to him, troops recovered more than 304,822 litres of petroleum products in September alone, including crude oil, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
He said troops also raided a suspected kidnappers’ camp in Sasaro/Agor Forest, Edo State, on September 4, arresting four suspects.
Onoja added that troops later disrupted a ransom collection operation near Ambrose Alli University, Edo, forcing suspected kidnappers to abandon their victims.
He said another suspected kidnapper was arrested at Obaretin Community along the Benin-Sapele Road, with an AK-47 rifle and ammunition recovered from him.
On oil theft, Onoja said troops discovered about 87,000 litres of suspected stolen crude at illegal refining sites around Aworkiri, Rivers State, on September 8.
He said another operation at Bethel Creek, also in Rivers, on September 22, led to the recovery of about 182,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
The defence spokesman said the operations targeted storage, processing and transportation facilities allegedly used by oil theft syndicates across the region.
He further disclosed that the Nigerian Navy, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, deactivated two illegal refining sites at Ogbogolo Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers on September 25.
According to him, the operation resulted in the recovery of about 33,800 litres of petroleum products, comprising 28,520 litres of illegally refined AGO and 5,280 litres of stolen crude oil.
Onoja said the sustained military operations were aimed at protecting Nigeria’s oil resources, disrupting criminal networks and reducing activities associated with oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta.
