Troops Raid Rivers Forest, Recover 78 Sacks of Stolen Crude Oil.

Troops Raid Rivers Forest, Recover 78 Sacks of Stolen Crude Oil.

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have recovered 3,120 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and dismantled equipment believed to have been used for illegal refining in a forest in Rivers State.

The discovery was made on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, during an anti-illegal bunkering operation conducted by the troops in Okarki Forest, located in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state.According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the operation was carried out between 10:15am and 6pm as part of efforts to disrupt illegal oil-related activities in the Niger Delta.

Makama disclosed that the troops discovered the suspected illegal refining site after searching parts of the forest. The equipment had reportedly been concealed in the area.

Items recovered from the site included eight drum ovens, two coolants, three drum reservoirs, four iron buckets and four metal pipes measuring approximately 200 metres in total length.The soldiers also recovered 78 sacks containing suspected stolen crude oil, with the quantity estimated at 3,120 litres.

The recovery highlights ongoing military efforts to combat crude oil theft and illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta, which have continued to pose challenges to Nigeria’s oil industry and security.

LIllegal bunkering and refining operations are also associated with environmental damage, particularly in communities where crude oil is illegally extracted and processed.

The recovered equipment and crude oil were subsequently handled in accordance with the operational procedures of Operation Delta Safe, the military operation responsible for tackling security threats and illegal activities in the Niger Delta region.The Nigerian military has continued to conduct operations aimed at disrupting oil theft networks, destroying illegal refining sites and preventing criminal groups from exploiting the country’s oil resources.