Troops crack down on oil thieves in N’Delta

•Tantita targets two mbpd oil production by December

Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, have scaled up their operations against illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta.

The latest achievements, recorded between November 11 and 17, 2024, include the recovery of arms and ammunition, deactivation of 46 illegal refining sites, and confiscation of over 95,000 litres of stolen products.

The Army, in a statement issued yesterday by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, said troops encountered armed vandals along the Oando pipeline in Ebocha, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Council, Rivers State. He pointed out that the criminals fled, abandoning an AK-47 rifle and a magazine loaded with 17 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition after a firefight.

He said large wooden boats conveying over 28,320 litres of stolen crude were intercepted around Obiafu-Ndoni, leading to the arrest of seven suspected oil thieves.

He added that several successful operations were conducted in the region, including the dismantling of numerous illegal refining sites and the deactivation of several boats around Buguma in Asari Toru Local Council.

According to him, Over 9,500 litres of stolen products were recovered, while 10,500 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were confiscated around Tuma and Krakrama in Degema Local Council.

Also, in Bayelsa State, Danjuma explained that troops deactivated two illegal refining sites, recovered over 6,000 litres of stolen products, and seized two boats at Tunu and Clough Creeks in Ekeremor Local Council. Similar operations were conducted in Nembe and Ogbia Local Council, resulting in the destruction of several illegal refining sites and the recovery of over 3,000 litres of stolen products.

MEANWHILE, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a private oil pipeline surveillance firm contracted by the Federal Government, has pledged to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production from 1.8 million barrels per day (mbd) to two mbpd by December.

The founder of Tantita, Government Ekpemupolo, known as Tompolo, said this through his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Dr Paul Bebenimibo, in a statement yesterday.

He celebrated Nigeria’s crude oil production milestone of 1.8mbpd, attributing the achievement to the collaborative efforts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), security forces, and Tantita Security Services.

Tompolo stated that reaching this production level would significantly boost government revenue, which would help the country more effectively.