NNPC Limited, Security Agencies Uncover Mortar Launchers, CCTV, Other Defence Systems Used By Criminals In Stealing Nigeria’s Crude Oil

…Vehicles, Wooden Boats, Crude Oil Storage Facilities Confiscated

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, working in partnership with private and government security agencies has uncovered hidden cameras mounted by crude oil thieves to carry out surveillance operations on illegal pipelines in the Niger Delta.

The discovery was done as the National Oil Company and security agencies intensify the war against crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Videos released by the NNPC Limited on X, formerly Twitter, showed that in the last one week, 149 incidences of crude oil and pipeline vandalism were recorded across the Niger Delta.

In some areas of the Niger Delta, the situation, as seen in the video became a warfare as several discoveries and arrests were made by security agencies.

For instance, in Osuobodo between 2 ANTAN flow stations located south of Oguta Naval Base in Imo State, an oil bunkering site was uncovered by the NNPC Limited.

It was learnt that these criminals have taken their activities higher as CCTV cameras were installed on trees by the thieves to look out for security operatives.

Similarly, Mortar launchers and defence systems were also mounted by the oil thieves in various locations to eliminate any perceived enemy.

This discovery, according to the NNPC Limited, was made possible after an invasion by the military following information gathered by an air surveillance carried out by Target Energy, Tantita security services, Operation Delta Safe and the Military in August.

“It’s a well orchestrated mission. The thieves are determined to live here and trade their stolen crude. A lack of electricity is no excuse. Generators are on standby to keep the camp’s operations afloat.

“Drums of crude oil feeding from an illegal connection, bags used for storing crude and more were discovered on the camp,” the NNPC Limited said in the video.

Between the 14th to 20th of October, 2023, about 49 illegal connections were uncovered in Udu and Ogharefe in Delta State, Ohaji Egbema in Imo, Brass in Bayelsa and in Rivers state.

At the spot in Rivers state, it was revealed that oil thieves drilled a tunnel underneath the tarred road to insert their illegal connection.

“The aim is to operate undetected. This was planned and carried out by an expert, using a horizontal directional drilling machine,” the video stated.

It was also revealed that 16 cases of Pipeline vandalism were recorded last week in Azuzu in Bayelsa state and Obodo Omadina and Ogidigbein in Delta state where a well head was vandalised.

In Ozuaku in Abia state, a vandalised pipeline is being repaired while ten facilities used for storing stolen crude were uncovered in various locations in the Niger Delta in the past week.

Similarly, more storage facilities were discovered in Ogborode, Ugborodo and Kwale in Delta State, Tomble and Emuoha in Rivers state and Yenagoa n Bayelsa state.

In Ozoro, Umuosonwu and Patani in Delta state, the NNPC revealed that vehicles conveying sacks of crude oil, were arrested and their content confiscated.

Five vehicle arrests were made between 14 and 20th of October, 2023, while 18 wooden boats conveying stolen crude were also apprehended this week in Rivers, Delta and Imo states.

The video also revealed that nine of these incidents took place in the deep blue water, 23 in the western region , 67 in the central region and 50 in Nigeria’s Eastern Region.

The NNPC Limited said there is no backing down on the war on crude oil theft, until the menace is eradicated for good.

This lastest discovery is coming exactly two years after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited begun a coalition to end the menace of crude oil theft in the country.

The partnership saw the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari leading a delegation from the oil and gas industry to the Niger Delta to seek support for the protection of oil and gas installations in the country.

Kyari who was accompanied by top officials of the NNPC visited the 21st Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; and the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oboro-Gbaraun II and other respected traditional rulers in the Niger Delta.

The traditional rulers present during the courtesy visit include: HRM Egbesuwei Gbanraun X (Agadagba), Paramount Ruler & Pere Of Ijo-Gbanraun Kingdom; HRM Ovie Monday Obokohwo Whiskey, Paramount Ruler Of Idjerhe Kingdom; HRM, Barr. Peremobowei Shadrach Erebulu Aduo III, Pere & Paramount Ruler Of Kabowei Kingdom; HRM Funpere .G. Akah; Ebedawei of Gbanraun Kingdom; HRM Godwin Ogonoyibo, Alagbabinafa III; Pere & Paramount Ruler of Olodiama Kingdom; HRM Ogonikara Eseimokumo 1, Okirimini; Paramount Ruler & Oguruyeke Of Tubutoru Kingdom; HRM Beri Apoi 111 Oki, Kalasuo Of Ukomu Kingdom; notable chiefs, women, youths, among others.

Before the commencement of the coalition in 2021, crude oil theft cost Nigeria around 470,000 barrels of crude estimated at $700m daily as of that time.

A report by the Nigerian Extractive International Transparency Initiative had estimated that Nigeria lost 619.7 million barrels of crude oil valued at N25trn between 2009 and 2020.

Since the coalition, Nigerians have started seeing results as crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism has reduced drastically.

This has made the Nigerian oil and gas industry to achieve its highest crude oil and condensate output in nearly 18 months, with a production of 1.72 million barrels of crude and condensate in the month of September this year.

This improvement is the result of months of collaboration with operators to co-create unique solutions to peculiar challenges, mainly evacuation issues faced by individual operators, stakeholder management, political will, and support from government institutions.

This improvement is directly attributable to the reopening of operations along corridors with a history of security challenges, the restart of production from facilities that have been shut down for extended periods due to evacuation challenges, the completion of Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of some assets, completion, and hook-up of infill wells, and critical well intervention projects.