The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) announced on Wednesday that it destroyed 134 illegal refineries and uncovered 63 illicit pipeline connections in the past week as part of an intensified crackdown on oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
In a visual report, the NNPC detailed a joint operation by security forces at 2 a.m. on Sunday, which led to the discovery of a large wooden boat illicitly loading stolen crude oil from Barge AGS01 within the OML 18 operating area.
Acting on credible intelligence, authorities intercepted the boat while it was receiving crude from the barge.
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The NNPC stated that the barge was towed away by a tugboat, with both vessels taken into custody. Five speedboats involved in towing the boat to the illegal loading site were also seized, and the particulars of the tugboats and barge were confiscated for further investigation.
In addition, two barges involved in illegal bunkering activities were seized in Rivers State, with their crews arrested. The report also highlighted that wooden boats transporting stolen crude were confiscated in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Abia states.
The 63 illegal pipeline connections were discovered in critical locations across the Niger Delta, underscoring the widespread challenge of oil theft in the region.
The NNPC’s aggressive stance against illegal refining and oil theft comes amid ongoing efforts to secure Nigeria’s oil assets and curb economic losses from the illicit trade.
