Security agents have confiscated a truck bearing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) logo for conveying stolen crude oil in the Niger Delta. This seizure is part of a broader crackdown that has seen multiple vehicles and assets implicated in oil theft apprehended in the past week.
According to the NNPCL, “remarkable progress” has been made in the war on crude oil theft, with 36 illegal pipeline connections and 99 illegal refineries uncovered between 7 and 13 September 2024. The report highlights the collaborative efforts of government and private security agencies, including Tantita Security Agency, Shell Petroleum Development Company, and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited.
In Rivers State, four “cleverly hidden” clandestine pipelines siphoning crude oil were exposed, with the NNPCL stating, “These pipelines had been siphoning off precious resources from the nation’s coffers.” Similar illicit operations were dismantled in other communities, preventing further losses.
NNPCL’s report revealed that:
“Between September 7 and 13, 2024, a total of 218 incidences were recorded across several locations in the Niger Delta region from various incident sources…”