The Nigerian Army has intensified its campaign against oil theft and pipeline vandalism by dismantling 27 illegal refining sites across four oil-producing states in the Niger Delta. The large-scale operation, part of an ongoing joint security patrol, is aimed at curbing economic sabotage and environmental degradation in the region.
The coordinated effort—conducted in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states—resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of equipment including cooking pots, storage tanks, crude oil-laden boats, generators, and pumping machines used in the illegal refining process. Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated that the Nigerian Armed Forces remain committed to protecting critical national assets, preserving public infrastructure, and upholding environmental integrity in communities affected by oil pollution.
In addition to destroying illegal sites, the security forces also uncovered several illegal oil bunkering camps and disrupted criminal supply chains. Intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance have been ramped up to prevent the re-establishment of these criminal networks.
The military noted that proceeds from oil theft have historically funded armed militancy and criminality in the region, undermining national security and economic development.
Authorities have pledged to maintain the momentum of the crackdown, urging community members to support security efforts by reporting suspicious activities.
