The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has uncovered 83 illegal refineries and 15 illegal pipeline connections in the Niger Delta over the past week
The national oil company made this disclosure on Tuesday on its official ‘X’ handle, stating that a total of 211 incidents of oil theft and vandalism took place between January 6 and 12 this year in the oil producing region.
According to the post, seven cases of vandalism, including a wellhead in the Umuajuloke community in Rivers State, were recorded while an active wellhead with multiple illegal connections was discovered in Owerri.
The X post reads: “In the past week, 15 illegal pipeline connections and 83 illegal refineries have been uncovered in the Niger Delta.
“83 illegal connections were spotted in Rivers, Abia, Imo and Bayelsa States.
“In Abia, a drone shot showed pockets of illegal refineries in Owaza, while illegal oil connections were discovered in Olodiama, Bayelsa State and Obuzor in Abia State”, the company added
A further analysis of the reported incidents showed that during the week under reviw, nine cases of oil spills, mostly caused by vandalism were also recorded and damage caused by oil spills was particularly evident in Ogboinbiri, Bayelsa State.
The company also disclosed that the illegal connections were found in Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Bayelsa States.
The X post showed that instances of illegal refineries were observed in Owaza, Abia State through a drone shot and in Olodiama, Bayelsa State, and Obuzor, Abia State, through illegal oil connections just as five illegal oil storage sites were found in Central Boma and Cocoa Camp in Bayelsa State, and sacks of crude oil were confiscated in Iba, Rivers State.
The company further hinted that in addition, 60 wooden and fibre boats were impounded in Akwa Ibom State, Delta State, and Rivers State.
It confirmed that these incidents took place in various regions, including eight in deep blue water, 54 in the Western Region, 81 in the Central region, and 68 in the Eastern region. The NNNPCL has already made 22 arrests in connection with these incidents.
The state-owned oil entity had earlier reported that between December 30, and January 5, 2024, no fewer than 157 incidents of crude oil theft were recorded in the Niger Delta region.
