The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited announced the destruction of 134 illegal refineries over the past week and the discovery of 63 unauthorized pipeline connections.
In a detailed visual report, the NNPC revealed that on Sunday at approximately 2 a.m., a joint team of security agents intercepted a large wooden boat illicitly loading stolen crude oil from Barge AGS01 in the OML 18 operational area.
The boat, found receiving oil from the barge based on credible intelligence, was towed away, and five speedboats used for its transport were also seized.
The tugboats and barge involved in the operation were confiscated for further investigation.
Additionally, two barges engaged in illegal bunkering in Rivers State were seized, and their crew members were arrested.
The NNPC also reported the confiscation of wooden boats transporting stolen crude oil across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Abia States.
The report further highlighted that the 63 illegal pipeline connections were discovered at critical locations throughout the Niger Delta.
In response, repairs were promptly carried out on pipelines in Bayelsa and Abia States, where illegal connections were also removed.
The NNPC disclosed that it was not just the pipelines that were under the siege of vandals and oil thieves, saying that across the swamps and waterways, illegal refineries sprawling toxic sites of crude oil refining were destroyed in states like Rivers, Abia and Bayelsa.
The company described illegal refineries as shadowy operations that pollute the environment, and bleed the economy dry.
In Rivers State, authorities uncovered secret storage locations, while in Bayelsa State, crude meant for the black market was seized.
“Between August 31 and September 6, 2024, a total of 302 incidents were identified across various locations in the Niger Delta from several incident sources like Tantita Security Services, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Maton Engineering Company, Heirs Energies Limited, Oando PLC, NNPC Limited’s Command and Control Centre and government security agencies,” the NNPC explained.
It added, “There is no backing down on the war on crude oil theft until the menace is eradicated.”
Recall it was earlier reported that incidents of oil theft have continued to increase despite the efforts of the security agencies.
