Troops from the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have apprehended eight suspects involved in illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and other criminal activities across Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states.
The arrests were made as part of ongoing military operations aimed at curbing oil theft and related offenses in the region.
In a statement provided to *DAILY POST*, Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, revealed that the suspects were intercepted along the Nun River in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. They were found with two fibre boats carrying sacks of stolen petroleum products, estimated to exceed 1,000 litres.
Additional successes were recorded in Ekeremor Local Government Area, where troops intercepted a suspect in possession of vandalized Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) armoured cables. The suspect was caught with a saw, iron bar, and shovel in a locally made wooden boat.
At Apuama, also in Southern Ijaw, troops deactivated an illegal refining site and seized over 3,000 litres of stolen petroleum products. Similar operations were conducted at Okegbene Creeks, resulting in the destruction of two illegal refining sites, drums, and a wooden boat, while confiscating over 10,000 litres of stolen products.
In another operation at Obotoro Creek, a wooden boat carrying 1,500 litres of stolen crude oil was intercepted. Additionally, at Ibaka waterside in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, six drums of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), estimated at 1,500 litres, were seized as they were being prepared for smuggling to a neighboring country via waterways.
Lt. Col. Danjuma confirmed that all suspects have been handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies, while the confiscated products are being dealt with according to established protocols for handling such materials. The ongoing operations reflect the military’s commitment to maintaining security and addressing illegal activities in the region.