Operation Delta Safe Rivers illegal crude oil seizure reported as troops recover 600 litres of stolen crude in Oyigbo LGA, Rivers State

Troops of 29 Battalion under the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, have uncovered an illegal crude oil refining site and recovered about 600 litres of suspected stolen petroleum product in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State on a recent date.

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Operation Delta Safe Rivers illegal crude oil seizure was confirmed following a coordinated anti-bunkering operation conducted by military personnel in the Niger Delta region aimed at curbing economic sabotage and illegal oil activities.

Security sources said the discovery was made at about 10:00 a.m. on May 12, 2026, during ongoing surveillance and crackdown operations around the Asa community.

During the operation, troops reportedly found an illegal refining setup where a large cooking pot filled with stolen crude oil was concealed in sacks, indicating an active but covert refining process.

Military authorities stated that the recovered crude oil and equipment were handled in line with established operational procedures guiding anti-oil theft missions under Operation Delta Safe.

The operation was carried out without any confrontation or resistance, and no security incident was recorded during the raid.

The Nigerian military has intensified efforts in recent months to dismantle illegal refining sites across the Niger Delta, targeting crude oil theft networks and other forms of economic sabotage affecting national revenue.

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Officials say sustained operations will continue as part of broader efforts to secure oil infrastructure and reduce losses linked to illegal bunkering activities in the region.