The Nigerian Army says it has successfully secured the Adibawa oil well area after driving out oil thieves and is finalising plans for a permanent troop deployment to safeguard the facility against illegal refining and crude oil theft.
Major Hassan Mohammed, Acting Garrison Commander of the 16 Brigade, disclosed this during a guided media tour of the area organised by Defence Media Operations in conjunction with Operation DELTA SAFE.
According to Mohammed, the area had previously served as a major illegal refining hub but has now been cleared and dominated following sustained military patrols and operations.
He said the Army intends to maintain a permanent presence at the oil wellhead, working with Reconizer Oil Company to establish accommodation and logistics for troops to ensure continuous security.
The commander explained that the oil well’s flow line runs to Bille along the Rivers–Bayelsa boundary, making it vulnerable to illegal tapping if left unsecured. He added that the Army would deploy troops on land alongside gunboats and a houseboat on the waterways to deny criminals access throughout the year.
Mohammed confirmed that drones were already being deployed for surveillance during patrols and would play a key role in monitoring forested areas once the static deployment is established.
Also speaking, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Michael Onoja, said the absence of illegal bunkering activities at the site demonstrated the effectiveness of sustained military operations to protect critical national assets.
He described the Adibawa oil wellhead as strategically important to Nigeria’s oil production, noting that securing such facilities directly contributes to increased national output.
Onoja disclosed that Nigeria’s oil production had risen to about 2.2 million barrels per day, moving closer to the Federal Government’s target of three million barrels per day. He urged host communities and individuals involved in oil theft to desist, warning that illegal bunkering undermines economic growth.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Adibawa oil wellhead, located in a creek along the Rivers–Bayelsa boundary, is one of the largest in the region.
