The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has said that 99 illegal refineries, and 36 illegal pipeline connections were discovered in the Niger Delta region in a week.
It explained that a total of 218 incidences were recorded across several locations in the Niger Delta region from various incident sources.
It highlighted the incidences and the sources as: Tantita Security Agency, 12; Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), 3; Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), 25; Maton Engineering Limited, 19; Oando, 22; NNPC Command and Control Centre, 48 and Government Security Agencies, 89.
It added that 48 incidences were recorded in the deep blue, 32 in western corridor, 61 in the central corridor, and 77 in the eastern corridor while 35 suspects were arrested. These were contained in a video titled, ‘War on crude oil theft,’ posted on the X handle of NNPC Ltd yesterday.
It said: “The war on crude oil theft is on and the industry security collaboration on hydrocarbon infrastructure continues to record remarkable progress. Between the 7th to the 13th of September 2024, a total of 218 incidences were recorded across several locations in the Niger Delta region from various incidence sources: Tantita Security Agency, Shell Petroleum Development Company; Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Maton Engineering Limited, Oando Plc, NNPC Limited Command and Control Centre and Government Security Agencies. “At Uzomini II in River State, 4 illegal pipelines cleverly hidden and connected to a crude oil line were exposed.
These pipelines have been siphoning precious resources from the nation’s coffers. Similar illegal operations were uncovered in Akwa Udoguan and Umajuluke communities. Swift action from security forces neutralised these illicit connections preventing oil losses. Makeshift refineries used to process stolen crude oil were demolished in an aggressive crackdown
