Niger Delta Secure: Army Reports Zero Pipeline Attacks in 2025 as Oil Output Surges
The Nigerian Army has announced a significant security milestone in the Niger Delta, declaring that no incidents of violent pipeline vandalism were recorded within its Area of Responsibility throughout 2025.
Major General Emmanuel Emekah, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, disclosed this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt while hosting defence correspondents on a tour of the Division’s headquarters and the Land Component of Operation DELTA SAFE.
According to the GOC, the achievement is a direct result of intensified military strategies, including intelligence-driven patrols and robust community engagement.
“Since I assumed command on Jan. 24, 2025, we have recorded zero cases of violent pipeline vandalism. No oil company operating within our Area of Responsibility has reported any breach of pipelines due to vandalism within this period,” Maj.-Gen. Emekah stated.
The General highlighted that this stability has directly translated into economic gains for the country. He noted that prior to 2025, Nigeria’s daily crude oil production hovered between 1.4 million and 1.5 million barrels per day.
However, due to the improved security architecture, production figures climbed to approximately 2.2 million barrels per day by December 2025.
“The protection of critical national infrastructure in the maritime and oil and gas domain remains the Division’s primary responsibility,” he added, emphasizing that the sector’s performance is a key metric for measuring the Division’s operational success.
While acknowledging reports of oil spills in the region, Maj.-Gen. Emekah clarified that recent leakages were primarily caused by aging infrastructure rather than criminal sabotage. He assured that such incidents were promptly reported to oil companies for immediate repairs.
On the issue of illegal refining, the GOC confirmed that troops are continuing to dismantle illegal sites and disrupt the supply networks of economic saboteurs.
He credited the success of these operations to a “whole-of-society” approach, involving close collaboration with other security agencies and continuous dialogue with host communities.
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