Security operatives discovered 220 illegal refineries in Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, and Abia states in one week, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has said.
This was contained in its documentary titled: ‘War on Crude Oil Theft’, posted on its X handle.
It said: “In the past week, 220 illegal refineries were discovered and confiscated in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Abia states, between August 10 and 16, and 416 cases by several incidence sources of Tantita Security Services, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Nigeria Agip Oil Company, Command and Control Centre, and government security agencies.
“Also, 33 suspects were arrested.”
The company added that the war on crude oil theft is on and the industry wise security collaboration on hydrocarbon infrastructure continues to record remarkable progress.
It noted that oil gushes from an illegal connection on a major pipeline in Brass, Bayelsa State, while 33 illegal connections were also uncovered in Ikesi, West Boma, Sapele, Brass and Tukubu in Bayelsa State, where a vandalised pipeline is undergoing repair.
Some illegal connections were also found in Tunbe and Ebube, Rivers State.
The documentary said 15 vandalised pipelines in the well head were reported in Delta State, leading to five cases of oil spill in several sites. Fifteen illegal storage sites housing reservoirs and sacks of stolen crude were seized in Delta, Rivers and Imo states.
The firm also said 48 Virtual Artificial Intelligence System (VAI) infractions were reported at sea, while 63 wooden boats were seized. Eleven vehicles were arrested on land in Rivers and Delta States.
The documentary added that 48 of these incidences happened in the deep blue water, 25 in the western region, 112 in the central region and 231 in the eastern region.
The NNPCL however vowed ‘there would be no backing down on the war against crude oil theft’.