Army Cracks Down on Oil Thieves While Alleged Kingpins Roam Free in Niger Delta

In a dramatic show of force, the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division has announced the arrest of 43 suspected oil thieves and the destruction of 14 illegal refineries across the Niger Delta. While the operation is being hailed as a victory against economic sabotage, critics are now raising pressing questions: *Who truly benefits from the seized 254,000 litres of stolen oil and the dismantled infrastructure?*

Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah, in a statement from Port Harcourt, detailed the multi-agency raids that spanned six days, boasting significant seizures and arrests. From massive illegal bunkering sites in Delta and Rivers to forest encampments in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom, the Army claims to have disrupted a vast underground economy.

But as the military celebrates, some activists and community leaders are calling the operation a smokescreen. “We’ve seen these busts before,” said one Niger Delta environmental advocate. “Yet oil theft continues —

Even more controversial is the fate of the confiscated products. “Where does 254,000 litres of stolen crude go after it’s seized? Is it destroyed, sold, or quietly rerouted into another black-market loop?” asked another observer familiar with the region’s oil politics.

While Major General Emmanuel Emekah praised troops and called for stakeholder synergy, skeptics argue that unless high-level collaborators — including government insiders and security personnel — are exposed, the so-called war on oil theft will remain a theatrical performance.

The military insists all suspects have been handed over to appropriate authorities. But in a country where prosecutions are rare and convictions even rarer, many believe the true criminals will remain untouched — hiding behind uniforms and power.