Troops uncover illegal refinery and seize 600 litres of stolen crude oil in Rivers State

Troops of 29 Battalion, part of the Joint Task Force South‑South under Operation Delta Safe, have uncovered an illegal refining site and seized approximately 600 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The discovery was reported on Thursday by security analyst and counter‑insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, who shared the information via his X handle.

According to security sources, the site was located around 10:00 a.m. on 12 May 2026 during ongoing anti‑illegal bunkering operations in the Niger Delta.

Soldiers found the illicit refinery near the Asa community, where a large cooking pot containing stolen crude oil was stored in sacks.

Military officials said the recovered oil and equipment were handled in accordance with the operational procedures for anti‑oil theft operations under Operation Delta Safe.

The operation was carried out without any confrontation or security incident.

The Nigerian military has intensified its efforts to combat crude oil theft, illegal refining, and other forms of economic sabotage throughout the Niger Delta region.