PUNCH
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has disclosed that 134 illegal refineries were destroyed in the past week.
The NNPC also stated that 63 illegal pipeline connections were uncovered during the period.
In a visual report, the NNPC stated that at about 2 am on Sunday, a joint team of security agents discovered a large wooden boat illicitly loading stolen crude oil from Barge AGS01 within the OML 18 operating area.
It noted that based on credible intelligence, the large wooden boat was caught receiving crude oil from the barge.
According to the state-owned oil firm, while the barge was towed away with a tugboat in custody, five speedboats used in towing the large wooden boat to the illegal loading site were also detained and the particulars of the tugboats and barge used for the operation were reportedly seized for further investigation.
It added that in Rivers State, two barges involved in illegal bunkering activities were also seized and the crew members were arrested.
Also, wooden boats transporting stolen crude oil were said to have been confiscated in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa State and Abia States.
It was stated that the 63 illegal connections were uncovered in critical locations throughout the Niger Delta.
In Bayelsa and Abia States, repairs were swiftly executed on pipelines while illegal connections were detected and removed.
The NNPC disclosed that it was not just the pipelines that were under the siege of vandals and oil thieves, saying that across the swamps and waterways, illegal refineries sprawling toxic sites of crude oil refining were destroyed in states like Rivers, Abia and Bayelsa.
