A whooping 163 oil theft incidents were recorded in just six days between November 25 and December 1 in the country.
This was revealed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Tuesday during its weekly Energy and You series on NTA Network.
The report stated that 69 illegal connections were discovered in Bayelsa and Rivers states, 14 illegal refineries, 10 pipeline vandalism acts, and 10 vessels AIS infractions.
Also, 41 wooden boats arrests were made in Bayelsa state as 5 vehicle arrests were made in Delta and Rivers states, 11 oil spills, and 3 illegal storage sites.
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According to Nairametrics, the report noted that on November 28, Tantita Security Services, in collaboration with security agencies, conducted routine surveillance along the western corridor where a large illegal connection was found on an Escravos pipeline in Udaibo, Delta state. Along the Amukpe-Escravos pipeline, another illegal connection was spotted in Mereje, Delta state.
Across different locations in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states, various incidents related to stolen crude oil were discovered:
Koluama, Bayelsa State: Sacks filled with crude oil were found.
Warri, Delta State: Drums containing stolen crude oil were discovered.
Aluu, Iba, and Isiokpo, Rivers State: Several areas were identified where oil pits, dumpsites, and bags of stolen crude oil were found.
Specifically in Warri, Delta State, at the Niger CAT junction, authorities uncovered a market where stolen crude oil was being traded.
Security agents, working in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, took action to dismantle the site. This demolition aimed to combat the persistent issue of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
Overall, a total of 163 incidents were reported across various regions:
- 14 incidents occurred in the Deep Blue water.
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52 incidents were reported in the Western region.
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35 incidents were documented in the Central region.
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62 incidents took place in the Eastern region.
Additionally, authorities were able to arrest 16 suspects involved in crude oil theft as part of their efforts to address and prevent such activities in the region.
