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Soldiers destroy 13 illegal refineries, arrest 15 oil thieves

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The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has dismantled 13 illegal refining sites, recovered 300,000 litres of stolen products, and arrested 15 suspected oil thieves following operations across four Niger Delta satates from January 20 to 26, 2025.

Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Danjuma noted that the operations included deactivating 150 locally-made ovens and were carried out in Rivers, Delta, Edo, and Akwa Ibom states.

“Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have continued to tighten the noose against oil thieves with numerous successes resonating across the joint operations area,” Danjuma said. “These successes include the dismantling of 13 illegal bunkering hubs, four boats demobilised, arrest of 15 oil thieves, over 150 locally made ovens deactivated, and the recovery of over 300,000 litres of stolen products.”

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In Edo State, troops discovered a vandalised site at Ugo Community in Orhiomwon Local Government Area, where a pool containing 252,000 litres of stolen crude oil was uncovered.

Equipment such as a pumping machine, hose, and pipes were also recovered.

In Delta State, troops intercepted a 30,000-litre DAF tanker truck siphoning crude oil from PAN Ocean Nigeria Limited Pipeline, with over 15,000 litres already stolen before the interception.

In Rivers State, operations along the Imo River corridor led to the confiscation of over 10,000 litres of stolen products.

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At Owaza general area, an active illegal refining site was raided, prompting the criminals to flee upon sighting troops. A pump-action gun was recovered during the follow-up operation.

Additional successes in Rivers State included the dismantling of illegal refining clusters at Obiafu Oil Field in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, where 10 cooking drums, hoses, and reservoirs were seized. Similar operations in Abalama Community, Asari-Toru LGA, and Abacheke area, ONELGA, uncovered thousands of litres of stolen products, cooking drums, and other equipment. Eight suspects were arrested.

In Akwa Ibom State, troops raided a storage facility in Ikot Abia, Ikot Ekpene LGA, recovering polythene bags filled with stolen Automotive Gas Oil.

In Bayelsa State, troops dismantled two illegal refining sites at Isonogbene, Brass LGA, recovering over 5,000 litres of stolen crude.

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General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, commended the troops’ efforts in curbing oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

“The days of criminal elements masquerading as economic saboteurs and associated crimes are numbered,” Emekah said, urging perpetrators to embrace legitimate livelihoods or face intensified military action.

Metro

Gunmen abduct RCCG Pastor in Ondo

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Suspected gunmen have abducted a cleric with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), identified as Pastor Gbenga Sanny, in Ondo State.

It was gathered that Sanny was seized by three gunmen on Sunday evening in the presence of his children.

Sources who confirmed the abduction to The Nation on Monday said the incident occurred at about 7.00 p.m in front of his residence located at Ilu-Abo community in Akure North Local Government.

Sanny, who is also a staff of the Akure North Local Government Area of the state, was taken to an unknown destination by the attackers.

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His wife reportedly escaped the attack.

“The three armed men reportedly came out of the nearby bush and whisked him away,” one of the sources revealed.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the police command, Jimoh Abayomi said investigation has been launched into the abduction case.

He stated that officers and tactical teams of the command have already been mobilised to the area and working to secure the safe rescue of the victim and apprehend those responsible for the crime.

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Father of four missing after being swept away by floodwaters

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A man was carried away by floodwaters at Christian Village in the Greater Accra Region on June 7, 2026, during a heavy downpour.

The victim, a father of four, reportedly slipped into a gutter while helping colleagues desilt it, and despite rescue efforts, the strong current swept him away.

Recounting the incident in a video shared by Ask Media on social media on June 8, 2026, eyewitnesses said the incident occurred while the victim and three others were clearing a heavily clogged drainage system to improve water flow during the rains.

The area is known to flood whenever there is heavy rainfall, prompting residents to regularly engage in desilting exercises.

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One eyewitness said the victim lost his footing during the exercise and fell.

“He slipped and fell into the river while we were removing debris. I tried to hold him by his collar, but I couldn’t keep hold of him. The current was too strong,” the eye witness recounted.

Despite immediate attempts to rescue him, he was swept away by the raging floodwaters and has since gone missing.

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Houses razed as soldiers, police clash with Delta community youths

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An orgy of violence broke out weekend in Emede community, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, as a joint operation of soldiers and police in the community turned bloody with many injured and houses burnt.

It was gathered that the joint security team under the aegis of “Operation Delta Sweep” comprises of personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies had stormed the community to arrest an alleged drug kingpin but met resistance.

Vanguard sources claimed that the security team invaded a hotel when they could not find their target where they meet a group of guests and youths who were on a celebration spree.

Sources said; “The people were having a birthday party at the hotel when suddenly the security team stormed the place. They subjected everyone to a search and demanded that they drop their phone for search too.

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“Some of the youths tried to resist the search of their phones at the hotel resulting to a shouting match. Soon the place became chaotic and there was serious resistance against the security team who fire multiple gun shots to desperse the surging crowd.

“While some youth sustained injured during the scuffles, one particular security personnel was unlucky as mobs who had gathered in large number descended on him before he was rescued.

Sensing danger following the overwhelming numbers of mobs who had gathered at the scene, the security team reportedly beat a retreat and went for reenforcement.

Irked by the development, the security team reportedly invaded the community at night unleashing mayhem on the community and in the process razed down the hotel and several other residential houses.

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Efforts to get comment from the Police Public Officer, SP Bright Edafe proved abortive as of press time.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area in Delta State, Hon.(Comrade) Warri Ovoke Friday, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring peace in the wake of recent violent confrontations involving youths and security agencies in Emede.

During visits to the affected areas where properties were destroyed, Warri assured residents of lasting peace and urged them to remain calm.

The council chief, accompanied by the traditional ruler of the kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Johnson Egbo, Ewhiri II, Security agencies among others visited the affected areas to assess the security situation, offer sympathies to impacted families, and engage with community leaders and stakeholders on strategies for achieving lasting peace.

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The chairman had earlier imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Emede town, restricting movement of humans and vehicles outside homes between the hours of 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM.

Warri assured residents and the general public that Emede remains calm and peaceful, with the government closely monitoring all activities to ensure lasting peace.

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