Troops Arrest 42 Oil Thieves, Recover Stolen Products

Thursday July 17, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |

Troops of Operation Delta Safe have apprehended 42 suspected oil thieves and recovered large quantities of stolen crude oil and illegally refined products in the past week.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye announced this while briefing journalists at the Defence Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.

Kangye said the troops recovered 201,345 litres of stolen crude oil, 29,730 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 1,759 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK).

He added that troops also discovered and destroyed 18 crude oil cooking ovens, 32 dugout pits, 16 boats, 21 storage tanks, 17 drums and 19 illegal refining sites.

He said, “Other items recovered include pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and 13 vehicles.

“Furthermore, 42 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested, while assorted arms and ammunition and some explosives were also recovered.”

Kangye further disclosed that troops also apprehended a notorious cult leader identified as Prince Johnson Ishirim, otherwise known as Commander Junior and 13 other suspected criminals/Kidnappers in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers, Oshimiri, Warri South and Ukwani Local Government Areas of Delta.

“Weapons and ammunition, as well as vehicles and motorcycles, were recovered from them,” he said.

According to him, troops also raided a criminal’s hideout in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa and arrested 28 oil thieves and some drug dealers on July 10.