NNPC busts 63 illegal refineries in Niger Delta crackdown

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has announced that it uncovered and confiscated products from 63 illegal refineries in the past week.

In a documentary released on Wednesday, NNPC revealed that 19 illegal pipeline connections and 63 illegal refineries were discovered in the Niger Delta during the crackdown.

READ ALSO:Akwa Ibom gov’s WhatsApp account hacked, investigation underway

The company reported that approximately 177 incidents of oil theft were recorded between August 3 and 9 from various sources.

Tantita Security Services reported four incidents, Shell Petroleum Development Company reported 11, and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) reported 26. Maton Engineering Company reported 20 incidents, NNPC 18 Operating Ltd recorded one, NNPC Command and Control Centre reported 51, and government security agencies reported 64.

NNPC also reported that 19 illegal pipeline connections were recovered over the last week, while others were repaired in various locations across Bayelsa and Rivers states.

READ ALSO:Tinubu, IGP urged to remove Kogi CP over insecurity

The company stated that the 63 illegal refineries were “discovered and confiscated in Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Delta states.”

“In the past week, a vandalised and barricaded oil wellhead was discovered in Taylor Creek, Bayelsa State, and stolen crude was found in an oil reservoir in Tombia III, IV, and Alesa, in Rivers State.”

Additionally, 17 vehicular arrests were made in communities including Mosogar, Oleh, and Amooe in Delta State; Imiringi in Bayelsa State; Korokoro and Akwa Odogwa in Rivers State; and in Akwa Ibom State.

NNPC noted that the crackdown led to the arrest of 16 suspects and the confiscation of 15 wooden boats used in the illicit trade in Rivers and Bayelsa states.

Numerous vehicles involved in the transportation of stolen crude oil across several states in the region were also seized.

Furthermore, the company reported that 51 of the incidents took place in deep blue waters, 21 in the western region, 29 in the central region, and 76 in the eastern region.