New crude oil theft points on the trans-Escravos pipeline have been uncovered by operatives of the Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo)’s surveillance outfit, Tantita Security Services Limited, hours after the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), Mele Kyari and Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, visited a major oil theft point at Yokri community in Burutu Council, Delta State.

According to a chief executive officer of the surveillance firm owned by Tompolo, a former militant leader, the new theft point is less than one kilometre from the main location, where an inactive 12” test pipeline was connected to the 24” Trans-Forcados/Ramos Pipeline, from where oil was stolen in large quantity through a loading platform at sea.

He said the illegal pipeline had been in existence for years but was discovered as a result of a renewed campaign against oil theft by the Federal Government through the surveillance outfit.

NNPCL and surveillance officials, at the weekend, disclosed that surveillance operations have so far discovered 16 breaches on trans-Ramos/Forcafos pipeline operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at Yokri.

The major crude oil theft spot is the illegal pipeline, which led to an illicit oil-loading platform in the sea, where large volumes of crude oil are diverted and stolen. Barges and ships come to the spot to load oil illegally.

Pondei indicted security officials in the growing oil theft business in the Niger Delta region, saying: “The surveillance team are not afraid of civilians involved in oil theft because we know them, they live among us, we can track them, what scares us are those carrying guns.”

Kyari and the CDS declared that a thorough investigation of the exposed illegal crude oil pipelines would be launched and those indicted would face the full wrath of the law, be they oil workers, security officers, oil companies or contractors.

Kyari, who toured the theft points at the weekend in the company of the CDS, described the trunk line tapping as a professional job requiring high-level expertise

He said: “Oil theft in the country has been going on for over 22 years, but the dimension and rate it assumed in recent times is unprecedented. The illegal attachments on the Trans-Escravos pipeline are professionally done and the end result is that they connected this to an inactive pipeline, which should not carry crude in a normal instance.”

“And we have seen that this line flow all the way parallel to the two other active Trans Escravos pipelines. And this is a good revelation.

“That is why the Chief of Defence Staff has said very clearly that an extensive investigation will be conducted.”

The Chief of Defence Staff said the discovery of the theft spots was an “eye opener”, promising to ensure that “an extensive investigation into the whole revelation to get to the roots with a view to reviewing the entire security architecture across the board, among other issues.”