Military destroys 53 illegal refineries in Niger Delta
The Nigerian military has destroyed no fewer than 53 illegal oil refining sites and arrested 81 suspects linked to crude oil theft, illegal refining, sea piracy, and other criminal activities across the Niger Delta region in January.
The operations were carried out by troops of Operation Delta Safe, according to the Defence Headquarters, as part of sustained efforts to curb economic sabotage and restore security in Nigeria’s oil-producing region.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed the development on Friday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the activities of the Armed Forces during the period under review. He said the operations followed multiple distress calls and intelligence reports pointing to increased illegal refining and maritime criminality across the Niger Delta.
According to Onoja, the military responded decisively to reports of crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and piracy, dismantling several illicit refining camps that posed both economic and environmental threats to the region.
The military destroys 53 illegal refineries operation, he said, also led to the recovery of assorted arms and ammunition from criminal hideouts, further underscoring the link between oil theft and organized crime in the Niger Delta.
Major General Onoja explained that the military’s January operations were not limited to dismantling illegal refineries. Troops also conducted coordinated land, air, and maritime patrols to disrupt the logistics networks that support oil theft and sea piracy.
He noted that the military destroys 53 illegal refineries campaign formed part of a broader strategy to deny criminal groups access to safe havens, particularly in remote riverine areas where illegal refining camps often thrive.
In addition to the destroyed refining sites, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that 81 suspects were arrested across various flashpoints in the region. Some of the arrests were made following targeted operations in communities identified as hotspots for illegal refining and oil theft.
Illegal oil refining has remained one of the most persistent challenges confronting security agencies in the region. The activity involves the diversion of crude oil from pipelines and its processing in makeshift facilities, often hidden deep within creeks and mangrove forests. Aside from depriving the country of critical revenue, the practice causes severe environmental damage, polluting farmlands and waterways relied upon by local communities.
The military said the suspects are currently undergoing further investigation and will be handed over to relevant authorities for prosecution in line with existing laws.
Onoja added that troops of Operation Delta Safe also responded to distress calls related to sea piracy and armed criminal activities along major waterways. He said these operations helped deter attacks on commercial vessels and fishing communities, many of which have suffered repeated assaults by criminal groups.
The military destroys 53 illegal refineries announcement has been welcomed by security analysts, who say sustained pressure on oil theft networks is critical to improving Nigeria’s economic stability. Crude oil theft has long been identified as a major drain on national revenue, with billions of naira lost annually to illegal bunkering and refining.
However, analysts caution that military action alone may not be sufficient to permanently eradicate the problem. They argue that without addressing underlying issues such as unemployment, poverty, and environmental degradation in host communities, illegal refining may continue to resurface despite repeated crackdowns.
Residents of affected communities have expressed mixed reactions to the operations. While some welcomed the destruction of illegal refineries, citing the environmental damage they cause, others raised concerns about the impact on livelihoods in areas where illegal refining has become a source of income for many youths.
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The military has repeatedly insisted that its operations are conducted professionally and with due regard for civilian safety. Major General Onoja reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to protecting critical national assets and ensuring the security of oil infrastructure across the Niger Delta.
He stressed that the military would continue to work with other security agencies and local stakeholders to sustain the gains recorded during the January operations.
The military destroys 53 illegal refineries effort, according to the Defence Headquarters, is part of a long-term campaign to restore stability in the Niger Delta and secure Nigeria’s economic lifeline.
As operations continue, attention is expected to shift to how effectively arrested suspects are prosecuted and whether sustained enforcement can disrupt the entrenched networks behind illegal oil refining.
For many observers, the January figures signal renewed momentum in the fight against oil theft, even as broader questions remain about environmental restoration, community engagement, and long-term solutions in the Niger Delta.
