Military Destroys 53 Illegal Refineries, Arrests 81 in Niger Delta.
Troops of the Nigerian military under Operation Delta Safe have intensified their crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, destroying 53 illegal refining sites and arresting 81 suspected oil thieves and other criminals during sustained operations across the region.
The latest development was disclosed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, during a media briefing in Abuja, where he outlined the outcomes of ongoing military operations nationwide.
According to him, the illegal refineries were dismantled in various creeks and forested areas of the Niger Delta following coordinated land, sea and air operations aimed at crippling oil theft networks and associated criminal activities. The troops also recovered several items used in the illicit refining process, as well as arms and ammunition linked to criminal gangs operating in the area.
Major General Onoja said the air component of Operation Delta Safe conducted armed reconnaissance missions over key waterways, where suspicious vessels and barges involved in crude oil siphoning were identified and engaged. He noted that these operations significantly disrupted the activities of oil thieves and illegal refiners who pose serious economic and environmental threats to the country.
In addition to the arrests, the military reported the surrender of dozens of suspected militants, as well as the rescue of foreign nationals during patrols along coastal and riverine areas.
The Defence Headquarters reiterated that the armed forces remain committed to safeguarding Nigeria’s critical oil infrastructure, protecting the environment, and denying criminal elements the resources used to fund insecurity in the region.
Operation Delta Safe is part of ongoing military efforts to curb crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and sea piracy in the Niger Delta, which have continued to impact national revenue and local livelihoods.
