We uncovered 83 illegal refineries, 15 illegal pipelines in one week

Within the last one week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited uncovered no fewer than 83 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta.

In a post accompanied with a video on its X handle on Tuesday, the company disclosed that 15 illegal pipeline connections were also discovered in the same period.

“In the past week, 15 illegal pipeline connections and 83 illegal refineries have been uncovered in the Niger Delta,” the company said.

The State oil company said that in all, a total of 211 incidents of oil theft and vandalism were uncovered.

Seven cases of vandalism were recorded including a wellhead in the Umuajuloke community in Rivers State.

In Owerri, an active wellhead was found with several illegal connections.

It was also learnt that nine cases of oil spills were recorded in the week, mostly caused by vandalism, adding that Ogboinbiri in Bayelsa State has been ruined by oil spills.

“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 NNPCL informed.

Five illegal oil storage sites were reportedly found in Central Boma and Cocoa Camp in Bayelsa State, while sacks of crude oil were found in Iba Rivers State and the contents confiscated.

Also, 60 wooden and fibre boats were said to have been apprehended in Akwa Ibom, Delta State, and Rivers State.

Eight of these incidents reportedly took place in the deep blue water, 54 in the Western Region, 81 in the Central region and 68 in the Eastern region

So far, the NPPCL said 22 suspects have been arrested in connection with the incidents.