Group urges Niger Delta residents to help armed forces operations in opposition to crude theft to protect atmosphere

A non-partisan advocacy, the Security and Economic Research Network (SERN), a civil society organisation, has urged residents of oil-producing communities within the Niger Delta to help the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in its ongoing marketing campaign in opposition to crude oil theft, unlawful bunkering and illicit refining actions within the area.

According to the group,  past the illicit monetary features loved by people and legal networks concerned in oil theft, the actions are inflicting severe environmental destruction, together with air pollution of rivers and groundwater, destruction of mangroves, contamination of farmlands and declining fish shares.

The organisation, in an announcement signed by its Convener, Morris Victor, stated the marketing campaign, beneath the management of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, requires the cooperation, vigilance and lively participation of host communities to attain lasting outcomes.

It stated the implications prolong past environmental injury to public well being, meals safety, livelihoods and the financial way forward for oil-producing communities, stressing that the area’s pure assets ought to function a basis for improvement fairly than legal enrichment.

The organisation cited the Defence Headquarters’ October 30 operational briefing, which disclosed that troops dismantled 49 unlawful refining websites and recovered 756,837 litres of petroleum merchandise within the South-South area in the course of the interval beneath evaluation.

It additionally referenced the Nigerian Navy’s disclosure that it recovered greater than 7.48 million litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum merchandise, deactivated 168 unlawful refining websites, destroyed 363 dugout pits and arrested 259 suspects between November 2025 and November 2026.

According to SERN, the figures exhibit the dimensions of oil theft within the Niger Delta and the necessity for sustained army operations, improved intelligence gathering and stronger collaboration between safety businesses and host communities. It referred to as on conventional rulers, youth organisations, girls teams, spiritual leaders and neighborhood improvement associations to reject any type of collaboration with oil theft syndicates.

“Oil theft may appear profitable to those involved in the criminal enterprise, but the communities are paying a much higher price through polluted rivers, destroyed mangroves, damaged farmlands, declining fish stocks and the gradual destruction of their natural heritage,” the organisation said.

SERN urged residents to supply credible and well timed intelligence to safety businesses on suspicious actions of crude oil, unlawful refining services, unauthorised pipelines and vessels related to oil theft. It additionally referred to as on the Armed Forces to maintain intelligence-driven operations whereas making certain professionalism, respect for human rights and the safety of harmless residents. The organisation additional urged the Federal Government and environmental businesses to accentuate clean-up operations, restore broken ecosystems and supply various livelihood alternatives for younger individuals.

The organisation maintained that the struggle in opposition to crude oil theft should transcend arrests and the dismantling of unlawful refineries to incorporate environmental restoration, neighborhood improvement and financial empowerment. “Protecting the Niger Delta is a shared responsibility. The people must stand with the Armed Forces, not with criminal networks. The future of the region, its rivers, forests, farmlands, fishing communities and coming generations depends on the choices made today,” Victor stated.