The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) recently announced the discovery of 72 illegal refineries within a single week across Rivers, Delta, and Abia states. This revelation came through a video report released by the company, highlighting the widespread nature of illegal refining activities in the region.
On August 18, as part of Operation Delta Safe, a vessel carrying 12 suspects was intercepted in the Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa State. According to the NNPCL, the tugboat was found loaded with stolen Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) flow lines. This indicates that the criminals not only breached the pipelines to siphon oil but also removed sections of the oil pipelines themselves for illegal purposes.
NNPCL noted that the 12 apprehended suspects are currently in custody, undergoing further investigation. The company also reported 46 infractions involving the Automatic Identification System (AIS) at sea, and the interception of 24 wooden boats carrying stolen crude oil in Rivers and Bayelsa states. Additionally, several vehicles transporting stolen crude were seized on land across Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa states.
During the same period, authorities uncovered 33 illegal oil connections in these states, alongside eight incidents of oil spills attributed to vandalism. Moreover, 12 sites used for storing stolen crude and illegally refined products were identified.
Between August 17 and 23, NNPCL documented 204 cases of oil theft, broken down into 47 incidents in deep blue waters, 10 in the western region, 100 in the central region, and 47 in the eastern region. Following these incidents, a total of 42 suspects were arrested.
The report underscores the ongoing challenges Nigeria faces in combating oil theft and illegal refining, which significantly impacts the nation's economy and environmental safety.
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