NNPCL records 149 oil theft cases in one week

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited reported 149 Niger Delta crude oil thefts in one week.

In one occasion, an oil bunkering site was found in Osuobodo between two ANTAN flow stations south of Oguta naval base in Imo state, the Company said Tuesday.

“Far from the regular, these criminals have taken their activities a notch higher. The criminals have planted CCTV cameras on trees in this camp to monitor security personnel. Oil thieves also installed mortar launchers and defense systems to destroy potential enemies.

After Target Energy, Tantita security services, Operation Delta Safe, and the military conducted air surveillance in August, NNPCL reported the military invaded and made this discovery.l0l0

It said, “It is a well orchestrated mission. Thieves want to live and trade stolen crude here. Electricity outages are no excuse. For camp operations, generators are ready.”

It said the camp had drums of crude oil fed via an illegal connection, crude storage bags, and more.

In Udu & Ogharefe in Delta State, Ohaji Egbema in Imo, Brass in Bayelsa, and Rivers state, 49 illicit connections were found between October 14 and 20, 2023.

Oil thieves in Rivers state constructed a tunnel beneath the tarmac road to install their illicit connection. Operating undetected is the goal. An expert planned and executed this using a horizontal directional drilling machine.”

Sixteen pipeline vandalisms occurred this week in Azuzu, Bayelsa, and Obodo Omadina, Delta, where a well head was vandalized.

NNPCL is repairing a vandalized pipeline in Ozuaku, Abia.

10 stolen crude storage facilities were found in the Niger Delta last week.

“In Ekpemu, Delta state, an interesting discovery was made.

In Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa states, Ogborode, Ugborodo, Kwale, Tomble, Emuoha, and Yenagoa were found to have more storage facilities

In Delta state’s Ozoro, Umuosonwu, and Patani, NNPCL apprehended and seized crude oil-laden cars.

Five automobile arrests occurred October 14–20, 2023.

In Rivers, Delta, and Imo states, 18 wooden boats carrying stolen crude were seized this week.

Nine occurred in deep blue water, 23 in the west, 67 in the center, and 50 in Nigeria’s east.