From pipelines to the high seas, criminals are feeling the heat. The Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), says it has dealt a heavy blow to oil thieves, illegal refineries, and sea robbers in the Niger Delta over the past year.
Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, OPDS Commander, revealed in Yenagoa that the task force dismantled 925 illegal refining sites, destroyed 1,228 storage facilities, and seized 6.8 million litres of crude oil along with millions more in refined products. 136 tanker trucks carrying stolen fuel were intercepted, and 1,565 suspects arrested for oil theft, kidnapping, and related crimes.
Pipeline security has improved dramatically, with a 95% terminal factor achieved on key pipelines like Trans Niger and Trans Ramos. Maritime patrols cleared 14 militants’ camps and helped reduce piracy in the Gulf of Guinea to zero incidents.
Beyond enforcement, OPDS also tackled community disputes with oil firms, resolving 282 CSR-related issues and carrying out medical outreaches, educational support, and development programs.
Rear Admiral Oladipo praised the media for helping amplify accurate reporting, calling it a “force multiplier” in the fight against oil theft. He vowed continued pressure on criminal networks to safeguard national assets and maintain peace in the region.
Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, highlighted that strategic communication and citizen cooperation are key to modern security operations, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and collaboration between the military and the public.
The JTF’s message is clear: Niger Delta pipelines are tighter than ever, and the days of easy oil theft are over.
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