The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has revealed that no fewer than 72 illegal crude oil refining sites have been discovered and destroyed in different parts of the country in the past week.
According to the NNPCL, illegal refining sites were discovered in the southern states of Rivers, Delta, and Abia.
It was disclosed that on August 18, 2024, a vessel was intercepted by the men of Operation Delta Safe; during the interception, the NNPCL reported that the 12 suspects were arrested in the Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa State.
Explaining further, the NNPCL noted that the officers apprehended the Tugboat with stolen crude belonging to hell Petroleum Development Company flow lines. The arrest indicated that the suspects had broken the crude line pipelines to connect their pipes and harvested a large amount of crude and pipes.
The NNPCL stated that the individuals arrested had been handed over to the relevant security agencies for further investigations.
The NNPCL report disclosed that 46 vessel automatic identification system infractions were recorded at sea, while 24 wooden boats conveying stolen crude were arrested in Rivers and Bayelsa States.
On land, it was disclosed that on land, the security operatives apprehended several vehicles of stolen crude oil, which were arrested in Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa States. It was also disclosed that 33 illegal connections were discovered in three states of the federation.
Speaking on the oil spills in different parts of the country, the NNPCL noted that eight incidents were uncovered in various parts of the country. The oils were out of the incidents of vandalism that took place in the locations; 12 other sites were uncovered that were being used for the storing of crude that is illegally refined.
From the 17th to the 23rd of August, the NNPC noted that 204 incidents of oil theft were recorded in different parts of the country. According to the report, “47 of the incidents took place in the deep blue water, 10 took place in the western region, while 100 took place in the central region in the eastern region.
The security agents have been able to arrest 42 suspects in connection with the various incents in the different parts of the country.
