NNPC Seizes 63 Illegal Refineries in One-Week Crackdown, Arrests 16 Suspects

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced a major operation targeting oil thieves, resulting in the seizure of 63 illegal refineries within just one week.

In its weekly documentary series “Energy and YOU,” NNPC reported that efforts to combat oil theft had led to the successful confiscation of these illegal refineries.

Between August 3 and 9, the state-owned company recorded 177 incidents related to oil theft from various sources.

Tantita Security Services reported four cases, Shell Petroleum Development Company identified 11 incidents, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited flagged 26 cases, and Maton Engineering Company recorded 20.

Additionally, NNPC 18 Operating Ltd reported one case, NNPC’s Command and Control Centre recorded 51, and government security agencies reported 64 cases.

NNPC disclosed that 19 illegal pipeline connections were discovered and repaired across multiple locations in Bayelsa and Rivers States during the same period.

A total of 63 illegal refineries were found and seized in the states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Delta. In Bayelsa State, authorities also uncovered a vandalized and barricaded oil wellhead.

Stolen crude oil was discovered in reservoirs in Rivers State, while 17 vehicle-related arrests were made in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States, as per NNPC’s report.

Additionally, 15 wooden boats carrying stolen crude oil were confiscated in Rivers and Bayelsa States. The NNPC detailed that 51 of the incidents took place in deep waters, 21 in the western region, 29 in the central region, and 76 in the eastern region.

According to NNPC, at least 16 suspects were arrested in connection with these incidents over the past week.

Oil theft has severely hindered the growth of Nigeria’s crude oil industry. For example, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu noted in 2023 that the country loses 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) due to theft.

Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva revealed that in 2022, Nigeria lost up to 700,000 bpd to oil thieves, a figure much higher than other oil-producing nations affected by theft, such as Venezuela, Iraq, Mexico, and Malaysia.

Earlier this month, Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings, criticized the government and security forces for not identifying those responsible for crude oil theft, particularly as large vessels transport the stolen oil through Nigerian waters.

He emphasized that this issue has driven international oil companies to divest from Nigeria.

Elumelu stated, “42,000 barrels of crude are pumped out daily, yet theft accounts for about 18 percent of production. This isn’t about stealing a small item—it’s on a massive scale. The government should know who’s responsible and inform us.”