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By SUMAILA OGBAJE
The Defence Headquarters says troops of Operation DELTA SAFE destroyed 104 illegal refining sites and recovered more than 1.61 million litres of petroleum products during the third quarter of 2026.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the Defence Headquarters third-quarter media briefing.
Onoja said troops also arrested 181 criminals during operations against oil theft, illegal refining, kidnapping and organised criminality.
He said the operations were conducted across the Niger Delta, particularly Bayelsa, Edo and Rivers.
According to him, troops recovered more than 304,822 litres of petroleum products during September alone.
He said the products included crude oil, Automotive Gas Oil, Dual Purpose Kerosene and Premium Motor Spirit.
Onoja said troops also raided a suspected kidnapper camp in Sasaro/Agor Forest in Edo on Sept. 4, arresting four suspects.
He said troops later disrupted a ransom collection operation near Ambrose Alli University in Edo, forcing suspected kidnappers to abandon their victims.
The defence spokesman said troops also arrested a suspected kidnapper at Obaretin Community along the Benin-Sapele Road and recovered an AK-47 rifle and ammunition.
On crude oil theft, Onoja said troops discovered about 87,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at illegal refining sites around Aworkiri on Sept. 8.
He said another operation at Bethel Creek in Rivers on Sept. 22 yielded about 182,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
Onoja said the operations disrupted storage, processing and transportation infrastructure used by oil theft syndicates.
He added that the Nigerian Navy, under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, deactivated two illegal refining sites at Ogbogolo Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers on Sept. 25.
“About 33,800 litres of petroleum products were recovered, comprising 28,520 litres of illegally refined AGO and 5,280 litres of stolen crude oil,” he said.
Onoja said the sustained operations were aimed at protecting Nigeria’s oil resources and disrupting criminal networks operating in the Niger Delta. (NAN)
