THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stated that no fewer than 157 incidents of crude oil theft were recorded in the Niger Delta between December 30, 2023 and January 5, 2024.
The cases were reported from a variety of sources, including Nigeria Agip Oil (62), Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (29), Maton Engineering Limited (18), Tantita Security Services Limited (8), NNPCL Command and Control Centre (2), Shell Petroleum Development Company (4), and government security agencies (34).
According to a 3:23-minute video shared on its X handle today, the NNPCL revealed the discovery of 52 illicit refineries in Abia, Imo, Rivers, and Bayelsa states, which were thereafter demolished.
According to reports, “32 illegal connections were uncovered in several parts of the Niger Delta,” including Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states.
Information gathered also revealed that illegal connections were also removed in the Niger Delta’s central corridor, and seven unlawful storage sites were discovered in Akwa Ibom.
Similarly, the NNPCL revealed in a video that buried drums of crude oil were recovered, with some discovered in vegetation.
Stolen crude oil sacks were reportedly discovered and confiscated in Oporoma, Bayelsa State, and Oleh, Warri.
Drums containing stolen crude oil were also discovered in the river in Delta State, while oil well heads in Rivers State were vandalised.
In the last week, 25 incidences of pipeline vandalism have been reported across multiple areas.
“12 automobiles transporting stolen crude were apprehended in the last week in various areas across Rivers and Delta States, while 24 wooden boats transporting stolen crude were apprehended and impounded.
“Nine of these incidences took place in the deep blue water, 45 in the Eastern region, 95 in the Central region, while eight took place in the Western region,” according to the report.
During the evaluation phase, NNPCL stated that “17 suspects were arrested” in connection with the event.
“For NNPCL, there is no backing down against crude oil theft except the menace is eradicated for good,” it stated in a statement.
The Federal Government disclosed that more than N4.3 trillion in crude oil was stolen in 7,143 pipeline vandalism incidents during a five-year period.
