Four of the 25 suspected oil thieves detained by the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division are members of the now-dissolved Indigenous People of Biafra.

The Army also reported that the agents recovered 45,000 stolen goods in the Niger Delta and dismantled 23 illegal refining stations.

This was revealed by Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, in a statement delivered to reporters on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

The accused IPOB members were apprehended in Oshimili LGA of Dekta State, Danjuma said, during a series of army operations in the Niger Delta region from January 12 to January 19, 2025.

“With multiple successes documented, Troops 6 Division has persisted in their efforts to combat economic sabotage and related crimes in the Niger Delta Region (NDR),” the statement read.

“As a result of these operations, nearly 45,000 liters of stolen goods were recovered, 23 illegal artisanal refineries were deactivated, 14 boats were destroyed, and 25 oil thieves—including four alleged members of the outlawed Independent People of Biafra in Delta State—were arrested.

The operations took place from January 12–19, 2025, in the joint operations region with other sister services.

“The actions in Rivers State led to the impoundment of a truck carrying more than 15,000 liters of stolen goods to Eneka in the Obia-Akpor Local Government Area via Tank on the East-West Road.

Troops seized four fiber boats, disabled seven illicit refining facilities, and retrieved more than 12,000 liters of stolen goods in the Degema LGA’s Karakarma neighborhood. Comparably, two illicit refining facilities, three receivers, and three pots of various sizes filled with more than 2,400 stolen goods were dealt with in the Bille area of Degema LGA.

Troops also advanced into the Imo Riverside, where they demolished 12 illicit refining installations, 25 drum pots, 24 receivers, and 6 metal containers. They also seized approximately 7,000 liters of stolen goods.

Several empty jugs, four hollow pipes, motorcycles, and a boat used in the horrible crime were among the other items removed. Four boats were deactivated and more than 2,700 liters of stolen goods were found along Buguma LGA’s Oga-Ama corridor.

Around Finima in Bonny LGA, troops also detained a barge and a suspected tugboat. It was claimed that stolen automotive gas oil was on board the barge.

In Delta State, four alleged members of the banned IPOB were apprehended by troops during a sting operation at the Power Line Bonsac general area in Oshimili LGA, it stated.

A number of objects were found among the irredentist group’s members. In addition, other motorcycles were stopped while transporting pilfered goods from Kwale in Ndokwa West LGA to Abor Community Junction. Relatedly, five dugout pits containing unknown amounts of stolen goods were demolished along the Yokri River in Burutu LGA.

According to the statement, troops stopped two Toyota Avalons with registration numbers AN AUG 964 TN and By By SAG 513 EA transporting an unknown amount of illegally processed AGO in Bayelsa State along the Okarki to Otuasega route in Ogbia LGA.

“The items and automobiles have been managed in accordance with the current operational mandate.

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“Troops maintain the necessary operational posture to ward off criminal elements while in Akwa,” said a spokeswoman for the Army 6 Division.

The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division General Officer Commanding, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, praised the soldiers’ perseverance and asked them to speed up operations.

Abdussalam also tasked them with preventing criminal elements—especially IPOB members—from establishing any presence in the Niger Delta.

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