NNPC Uncovers 72 Illegal Refineries In One Week

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reported that at least 72 illegal refineries were discovered within a week in three states: Rivers, Delta, and Abia.

NNPCL detailed the discovery of these illegal refineries in a video report released by the company.

On August 18, members of Operation Delta Safe took into custody a vessel with 12 suspects on board in the Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa State.

The NNPCL started that the tugboat was discovered carrying stolen Shell Petroleum Development Company flow lines.

“The tugboat was caught loaded with stolen Shell Petroleum Development Company flow lines, which shows that not only did the thieves break the pipelines in order to connect their pipes, but they also harvested oil pipelines as well,” the NNPC said.

The robbers did not only break into the pipelines to steal oil, but they also removed pieces of the pipelines themselves.

The 12 accused are now in detention pending additional investigation.

NNPCL also revealed that 46 automatic identification system breaches were registered at sea, while 24 wooden boats transporting stolen oil were intercepted in Rivers and Bayelsa states.

On land, multiple vehicles carrying stolen crude oil were captured in Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa states.

During the same week, 33 illegal oil connections were detected across three states.

Eight oil leaks linked to vandalism were reported, and 12 facilities used to store stolen crude and illegally refined goods were discovered.

“From August 17 to 23, 204 incidents of oil theft were recorded by different incident sources.

“47 of the incidents took place in the deep blue water, 10 in the western region, 100 in the central region and 47 in the eastern region,” it was disclosed.

42 people have been taken into custody in relation to these incidents.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli