By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has revealed that between the period of August 26th and September 1st, 2023, there were a total of 150 crude oil theft incidents mainly across Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo, and Delta States.
NNPCL disclosed this in a video it shared on its X handle, formerly known Twitter, on Tuesday. In the report, it said that a series of noteworthy incidents transpired during the highlighted week in the oil-producing regions of the Niger Delta.
According to the report, a total of 56 illegal refineries were located and subsequently dismantled, shedding light on the ongoing challenges related to unauthorized oil processing in the area.
Also, authorities uncovered 22 illegal connections, underscoring the need for vigilance in monitoring and addressing unauthorized access to critical infrastructure. There were also cases of about 16 Vehicle arrests, a total of 7 pipeline vandalism acts were detected, underscoring the ongoing challenges posed by these activities, including environmental damage and economic losses, 3 oil spills, the discovery of 37 wooden boats, among others.
The report shed light on the complex nature of crude theft operations in the region. It revealed that some of these illicit ventures involved the establishment of large crude pits for the storage of stolen crude oil. It was also noted that certain culprits had resorted to packaging stolen crude in sack bags for subsequent sale.
These activities have led to significant environmental havoc in the Niger Delta, resulting from both the operation of illegal refineries and the presence of facilities for storing stolen crude.
