Niger Delta Oil Thieves Have Been Degraded, Says JTF Commander

The Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, says it recorded major operational successes in the last year, degrading crude oil theft, illegal refining and sea robbery across the Niger Delta.

The commander of OPDS, Olugbenga Oladipo, disclosed this in Yenagoa during a media tour and briefing on the task force’s activities.

He said sustained intelligence-driven kinetic and non-kinetic operations had strengthened the security of Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure, leading to improved crude oil production and export stability.

According to him, OPDS troops demobilised no fewer than 925 illegal refining sites, dismantled 1,228 storage facilities and destroyed 297 large wooden boats used for crude oil theft within the period under review.

“About 6.8 million litres of crude oil, 2.29 million litres of illegally refined diesel, as well as large quantities of PMS and DPK, were recovered or denied criminal elements,” he said.

Mr Oladipo added that 136 tanker trucks conveying stolen petroleum products were intercepted, while 1,565 suspects linked to oil theft, illegal refining, kidnapping and other crimes were arrested and handed over to relevant prosecuting agencies.

He noted that the sustained operations helped achieve an average terminal factor of about 95 per cent on major pipelines, including the Trans Niger, Trans Ramos and Trans Escravos pipelines, particularly in the last quarter of 2025.

On maritime security, the OPDS commander said the task force conducted over 3,240 land and sea patrols, leading to the clearance and destruction of 14 militants’ and sea robbers’ camps.

He said the aggressive posture against sea robbery and piracy had resulted in zero piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea and the lowest incidence of sea robbery in Nigerian waters within the period.

In the area of arms control, the commander disclosed that 99 illicit weapons were recovered from criminal elements during intelligence-led raids across the joint operations area.

Beyond combat operations, he said OPDS intensified non-kinetic engagements, resolving about 282 corporate social responsibility-related disputes between oil companies and host communities.

“These mediation efforts involving companies such as Chevron, Aiteo, Oando and others helped prevent production shutdowns and fostered a more conducive operating environment,” he said.

He added that OPDS also carried out medical outreaches, educational support programmes and community development initiatives, while maintaining strong collaboration with pipeline surveillance contractors and regulatory agencies.

Mr Oladipo commended the media for its role in public sensitisation and accurate reporting, describing it as a force multiplier in the campaign against crude oil theft and vandalism.

He assured that the task force would sustain operational pressure on criminal networks to further secure national economic assets and maintain peace in the Niger Delta.

(NAN)