The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has dismantled 12 illegal refining sites, arrested 16 suspects, and recovered approximately 70,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta region.

Additionally, the Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, demobilised six boats and intercepted nine vandalised pipelines during a week-long operation spanning Rivers and three other states in the region.

Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, disclosed these developments in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday evening.

Danjuma said, “Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, while consolidating operational gains, have dismantled 12 illegal refining sites, arrested 16 suspected oil thieves, demobilised six boats, intercepted nine vandalised pipelines, and confiscated over 70,000 litres of stolen petroleum products across the joint operations area.”

He said the operations, conducted between January 27 and February 2, 2025, saw significant success, particularly in Rivers State, where troops intercepted two fully loaded suction trucks carrying 12,000 litres of stolen crude each along the Igwurita-Airport Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

He said, “Acting on credible intelligence, troops uncovered a large storage facility in a scrap yard along the same road, seizing over 10,000 litres of stolen products stored in multiple tanks.

“Further clearance operations around the Imo River led to the destruction of three illegal refining sites, 43 cooking drum pots, 23 receivers, and three fibre boats, along with the confiscation of over 4,000 litres of stolen petroleum products. Troops also recovered a locally fabricated double-barrel gun, believed to have been abandoned by fleeing oil thieves.

“Similarly, operations around Mgbede Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area resulted in the deactivation of four illegal refining sites and the destruction of 86 locally made ovens.

“Additionally, troops discovered a dugout pit containing over 7,200 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,700 litres of Automotive Gas Oil.

“At Ndoni Waterside in ONELGA, troops intercepted over 102 sacks containing approximately 5,100 litres of stolen AGO and Premium Motor Spirit. Another 35 sacks filled with 2,100 litres of illegally refined AGO were confiscated at Agah, while two oil thieves were apprehended in Omoku with 14 sacks of condensates stored in their residence.”

Danjuma added that in Delta State, troops intercepted an abandoned wooden boat containing over 3,160 litres of stolen crude oil within the Ashaka Okpai community water channel, leading to the River Niger in the Ndokwa East Local Government Area.

Similarly, eight sacks of unquantified condensates were seized along the Oando pipeline near Tuomo village in Bomadi.

“In Bayelsa State, a suspected oil thief was arrested in the Sagbama Local Government Area with over 1,100 litres of illegally refined AGO. Meanwhile, in Akwa Ibom State, troops continued their surveillance of creeks, rivulets, and waterways to prevent criminal activities.

“The suspects have been positively identified and handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies,” Danjuma said.

Commending the troops for their successes, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, urged them to sustain their operational tempo to create a conducive environment for legitimate exploration activities.

He also emphasised the importance of professionalism and discipline in executing their duties.

Suspected kidnappers have abducted a staff member of a well-known Ibadan-based agro-industrial firm, demanding a N100 million ransom for his release.

The abduction occurred on Friday when four employees were returning from the company’s farm in Onigaari village along the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road.

The assailants, who had laid an ambush, opened fire on their Hilux vehicle.

Three workers sustained gunshot injuries, while the uninjured staff member was taken hostage and moved to an unknown location.

The injured victims are receiving treatment at a private hospital in Challenge, Ibadan.

Onigaari has become a hotspot for kidnappings, with frequent attacks on commuters and business operators.

Police spokesperson CSP Adewale Osifeso confirmed that investigations are ongoing and assured updates as they become available.

A 25-year-old woman, Promise Eze, was rescued by the operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command after being tied up and left unconscious by a man she met on an online dating site.

The suspect, who introduced himself as Michael Prince but later identified himself as Emmanuel Okoro, is now on the run, with police launching a manhunt to ensure his swift arrest.

A statement on Sunday by the command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the police received a distress call from a hotel in the Wuse area of the FCT after noticing suspicious activities in one of its rooms.

Adeh said upon arrival, officers discovered Eze tied to a small chair with her mouth covered in plaster, and lying on the floor unconscious.

She noted that Eze was immediately rushed to Wuse District Hospital, where she was resuscitated.

“On January 31, 2025, at approximately 11:30 AM, the command received a distress call from a hotel in the Wuse area of the FCT, reporting suspicious activity in one of their rooms.

“Responding swiftly, police operatives arrived at the scene and discovered a 25-year-old woman, Promise Eze, from Ebonyi State, tied to a small chair with her mouth covered in plaster. She was found unconscious and in distress. Officers acted immediately, freeing her from captivity and rushing her to the Wuse District Hospital, where she was resuscitated”, the statement partly read.

Adeh said preliminary investigations revealed that Eze had checked into the hotel the previous morning, January 30, with Okoro, whom she had met online.

According to her, the suspect had presented himself as an oil company employee based in Delta State.

Adeh noted that the suspect had initially invited Eze to visit him in Delta State but she rejected it but agreed to meet him in Abuja instead.

“Preliminary investigations revealed a disturbing pattern of deception and violence. The victim had checked into the hotel a day earlier, on January 30, 2025, at about 7:00 AM, in the company of a man who identified himself as Emmanuel Okoro from Lagos State.

“However, during police questioning, the victim disclosed that she had met the suspect online, where he introduced himself under the alias Michael Prince, claiming to be an oil company employee based in Delta State. Initially, he invited her to Delta State, but after she declined, they agreed to meet in Abuja.”

Adeh added that Eze said Okoro brandished a dagger to threaten her before tying her up and taping her mouth inside the hotel’s bathroom.

“What was meant to be an innocent meeting turned into a harrowing ordeal. The suspect allegedly brandished a dagger, using it to threaten and subdue the victim before restraining her by tying her hands and legs and taping her mouth shut inside the bathroom. He then fled the scene, stealing her two mobile phones. Alarmingly, before escaping, the victim overheard him speaking to suspected accomplices over the phone, informing them that he was on his way to regroup before returning to the hotel to ‘finish the job,’” the statement added.

Adeh said the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, condemned the incident and advised young women about the dangers of meeting strangers online without proper caution.

He assured the public that efforts were underway to track down the suspect, urging anyone with useful information on the suspect’s whereabouts to call the command’s emergency lines.