When you hear that there is so much oil theft in Nigeria, stories like this will help you understand better. Also, it shows what the government is doing to cut down on the activities of the criminals in the region.
In a decisive week-long operation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) dismantled 17 illegal pipeline connections and uncovered 34 illegal refineries across the Niger Delta.
From November 30 to December 6, the NNPC waged a ‘War On Crude Oil Theft’.
This NNPC’s initiative is supported by security agencies and partners.
It was targeted at key hotspots, seizing stolen crude and disrupting oil theft networks across the region.
The NNPC uncovered 34 illegal refineries and 17 pipeline connections across the Niger Delta in just one week.
Also, the NNPCL, along with Shell Petroleum Development Company, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, OANDO PLC, New Guard Security and Consultancy Limited, and various government security agencies, led the operations.
As a result, they recorded 94 oil theft incidents across Bayelsa, Rivers, and Abia States.
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Notably, key hotspots included Ogboingbiri, Ejehinkiri, and Alabelema in Bayelsa State, and Okrika 7 in Rivers State, where security forces uncovered illicit setups.
Subsequently, they quickly repaired the damaged pipelines, reinforcing Nigeria’s hydrocarbon infrastructure.
Illegal Refineries
Moreover, the team dismantled illegal refineries in Ebocha, Umuajuloke, and Kumkum in Rivers State, as well as Ukwa, Uzuaku, and Bizeni in Bayelsa State.
In Okrika 7, they uncovered a massive crude oil storage site, with sacks of stolen oil ready for the black market.
Furthermore, they discovered illegal storage sites in Igi 3, Ibudiya 1, and Ukua.
In addition, security forces seized and destroyed wooden fibre boats used to carry stolen oil in Rivers and Abia States.
Consequently, these operations led to the arrest of 19 suspects, who were handed over to security agencies for investigation.
Ultimately, these coordinated actions dismantled illegal operations across key corridors of the Niger Delta, thereby sending a strong message against oil theft in Nigeria.
