The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced yesterday that it has uncovered a staggering 83 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta within the past week.
The company took to its X page (formerly Twitter) to share this disconcerting discovery, indicating that 15 illegal pipeline connections were also exposed during the same period.
The NNPCL, through its official X account, stated: “In the past week, 15 illegal pipeline connections and 83 illegal refineries have been uncovered in the Niger Delta.”
Accompanying the announcement was a video revealing that from January 6 to 12, a total of 211 incidents of oil theft and vandalism were reported.
Among these incidents were seven cases of vandalism, including a wellhead in the Umuajuloke community in Rivers State.
Notably, an active wellhead with multiple illegal connections was found in Owerri.
Furthermore, nine cases of oil spills occurred during the week, primarily attributed to vandalism, with Ogboinbiri in Bayelsa State being severely impacted.
The NNPC Limited disclosed, “83 illegal connections were spotted in Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Bayelsa States.”
A drone captured illegal refineries in Owaza, Abia State, while illicit oil connections were discovered in Olodiama, Bayelsa State, and Obuzor in Abia State.
Five illegal oil storage sites were reportedly found in Central Boma and Cocoa Camp in Bayelsa State.
Notably, sacks of crude oil were confiscated in Iba, Rivers State.
Also, 60 wooden and fiber boats were apprehended in Akwa Ibom, Delta State, and Rivers State.
These incidents were distributed across various regions, with eight occurring in deep blue waters, 54 in the Western Region, 81 in the Central region, and 68 in the Eastern region.
So far, the NNPC Limited reported the arrest of 22 suspects linked to these incidents.
The alarming frequency of crude oil theft remains a persistent challenge, with 157 incidents recorded in the Niger Delta between December 30, 2023, and January 5, 2024.
Despite the NNPCL’s unwavering commitment against crude oil theft, the numbers suggest a disconcerting trend.
The Federal Government previously disclosed that over N4.3tn worth of crude oil was stolen in 7,143 pipeline vandalism cases within five years.
The battle against oil thieves continues amid the pressing need for stronger measures to curb this epidemic.
