The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, on Tuesday said it has busted no fewer than 34 illegal refineries and 17 pipeline connections in seven days.
The disclosure was made in a video documentary posted on its official YouTube channel, adding that the illegal activities were uncovered across the Niger Delta region under its ‘War On Crude Oil Theft’ operations between November 30 and December 6, in line with its commitment to end crude oil theft in Nigeria.
This was done through the collaboration of NNPCL command and control centres, government security agencies, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, OANDO PLC, and Maton Engineering Nigeria Ltd.
Furthermore, the company disclosed that it recorded a total of 94 oil theft incidents in parts of Bayelsa, Rivers and Abia states.
“In a series of coordinated operations, illegal pipelines were discovered and dismantled at key hotspots – Ogboingbiri, Ejehinkiri, Alabelema in Bayelsa State,” NNPCL said.
“And Okrika 7 in Rivers state witnessed swift action as security forces uncovered an illicit setup used by perpetrators to exploit Nigeria’s resources.
“Repairs were carried out promptly restoring the pipelines to full functionality and fortifying the nation’s hydrocarbon infrastructure.
“The crackdown didn’t stop there. Illegal refineries met their end in Ebocha, umuajuloke community, Okrika 7, and Kumkum in Rivers State, as well as Ukwa, Uzuaku, Oza West, Odogwa, Obuzor, Oandu in Abia State and Bizeni in Bayelsa state.”
NNPCL officials also uncovered a huge illegal storage site in Okrika, Rivers State, where crude oil was stored in sacks and set to be sent into black market for sale, adding that a total of 19 suspects were apprehended and handed over to security operatives.
