Abstract

This study examines government efforts to curb oil bunkering in the Kolo Creek axis of Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. Driven by poverty, unemployment, and marginalisation, artisanal oil refining has persisted despite severe environmental and security risks. Drawing on the assumptions of the Relative Deprivation Theory, this study examines how perceived economic exclusion fuels resistance to government interventions. A descriptive phenomenological methodology was adopted, employing in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews to collect data from participants in Otuegwe II, Ibelebiri, and Oruma communities. Findings reveal that although military interventions disrupt illegal refining, they also exacerbate human insecurity, deepen economic distress, and upscale community distrust. Participants reported increased violence, displacement, and theft following the cessation of oil bunkering, with some youths turning to palm kernel oil production as an alternative means of livelihood. However, the economic hardship and lack of sustainable opportunities have made the allure of illegal refining enduring. The study recommends a shift from militarised responses to community-driven solutions. Government and stakeholders should prioritise sustainable livelihood programmes, such as agriculture, aquaculture, and value chains for palm kernel oil, to address root causes of poverty and unemployment. Meaningful community engagement and infrastructural development are critical for achieving long-term success in eradicating oil bunkering.

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