The war against Oil-theft has continued to yield positive results as Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) reported 144 crude oil theft incidents in 7 days.
This revelation came through an announcement via its Twitter handle on Tuesday, October 31.
NNPCL reported a series of crude oil theft incidents that occurred between October 21 and 27 in various locations, including: Tori and Ogborode in Delta. Olodiama, Oporomor IV, and West Boma in Bayelsa. Imo State. Owaza in Ukwa, Abia. Ahoada and Iba in Rivers state
Numerous incidents encompass a broad spectrum of activities, including 32 cases of illegal connections, 45 instances of illegal refineries, 11 reported cases of pipeline vandalism, 19 seizures of vehicles, 8 infractions related to vessel AIS (Automatic Identification System), 19 seizures of wooden boats, 6 reported cases of illegal storage sites, 3 incidents of oil spills, and the arrest of 1 vessel.
The report by the NNPCL sheds light on the persistent challenges and unlawful activities associated with crude oil theft, which carry substantial environmental, economic, and security repercussions.
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It’s worth noting that Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser of the country, emphasized that crude oil theft is responsible for the daily loss of up to 400,000 barrels of crude oil, resulting in significant revenue setbacks.
Expanding on the report’s details, security operatives acted upon intelligence provided by informants in Ughelli, Delta State, concerning a truck transporting double-bagged sacks of diesel masquerading as fertilizer. Subsequently, officials verified this information, leading to the interception of the truck and the discovery of illicitly refined diesel it was carrying.
Furthermore, a vessel known as MV Chovwe, suspected of transporting unlawfully sourced crude oil in the Escravos River, was apprehended and handed over to the Nigerian Army 5 Battalion for further investigation. Initially detained on September 25, the vessel reportedly encountered naval intervention on September 27 and is presently situated in Ogboinbiri, Bayelsa State, pending ongoing investigations.
The NNPCL report also highlights the apprehension of 24 suspects involved in crude oil theft during the specified week. Notably, these incidents unfolded across various regions, with 8 in the Deep Blue Water, 45 in the Eastern region, 48 in the Central region, and 43 in the Western region of the oil-producing areas within the Niger Delta.
While the NNPCL report underscores the considerable efforts made by security agencies to combat unlawful activities related to the theft and transportation of crude oil, it also underscores the gravity of the issue of crude oil theft in the country. The widespread occurrence of these incidents across diverse regions underscores the magnitude of the challenge within the oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta, necessitating ongoing vigilance and proactive measures to curtail such activities.
