Nigerian Army Dismantles 19 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta, Arrests 20

By Staff, Agencies

The Nigerian army has shut down 19 illegal crude oil refineries in the Niger Delta as part of a broader operation to combat oil theft and smuggling.

The crackdown, which took place between May 19 and 25, also led to the arrest of 20 suspects and the seizure of approximately 589,000 liters of illegally refined petroleum products.

Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, acting deputy director of the 6 Division Army Public Relations, confirmed the operation’s success and emphasized the military’s ongoing efforts to tackle crude oil theft in the oil-rich region.

Oil theft remains a serious problem for Nigeria, which lost more than $3 billion to such activities in 2023, according to Senator Ned Nwoko. Although Nigeria holds about 37 billion barrels in proven oil reserves—accounting for 3.1% of the world’s total—and ranks sixth globally in petroleum exports, the Niger Delta continues to experience armed conflict, pipeline sabotage, and kidnappings.

These incidents are often driven by local resentment over environmental degradation and the perceived failure to share the region’s oil wealth equitably with affected communities.