By Ihechi Enyinnaya
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says it has cracked down on the operation of some oil thieves, seizing 63 illegal refineries within one week.
NNPC revealed in its weekly documentary “Energy and YOU” that its fight against oil theft yielded results of confiscating the 63 refineries.
According to the state-owned oil company, about 177 incidents were recorded between August 3 and 9 by different incident sources.
Four cases were recorded by Tantita Security Services; Shell Petroleum Development Company reported 11, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited reported 26 while Maton Engineering Company reported 20.
The state-owned oil company, through NNPC 18 Operating Ltd, recorded one case, and the NNPC Command and Control Centre did 51 while government security agencies reported 64.
According to the NNPC, 19 illegal pipeline connections were recovered during the week under review, while some underwent repairs across several locations in Bayelsa and River States.
“63 illegal refineries were discovered and confiscated in Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Delta States and a vandalised barricaded oil wellhead was discovered in Bayelsa State.”
Also, stolen crude was discovered in oil reservoirs in Rivers State, according to the state-owned firm, 17 vehicular arrests were made in communities in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.
NNPC also said 15 wooden boats conveying stolen crude were confiscated in Rivers and Bayelsa States, disclosing that 51 of those incidents took place in the deep blue water, 21 in the western region, 29 in the central region, and 76 in the eastern region.
According to the NNPC, no fewer than 16 suspects had been arrested in connection with the incidents in the past week.