The Nigerian Navy has made more discoveries concerning crude oil theft in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
OsunDailyNG reports that the Navy, over the weekend, escalated and destroyed the oil equipment of a suspected oil syndicate on Oil Mining Lease-18 in Elem Krakama Creek at the Degema Local Government Area.
According to the navy, the site of theft belonged to Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL).
The Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, Commodore Suleman Ibrahim, told pressmen that the Navy spotted the illicit activities by its patrol helicopter on July 11, 2023.
He said, “We came here with members of the NNPC OML 18 Resources; they are the owners of the well.
“We came with our heavy equipment to make sure we dismantle the illegal structures that are being used to siphon crude illegally.
“A lot of pipes have been recovered from the wellhead, and we have disconnected where they are being connected to.
“As an individual, what I have seen here is way beyond what I have seen elsewhere. The level of sophistication is beyond our imagination.
“The individuals involved had taken their time and done a lot of measurements and did welding on-site.”
Speaking further, he said four suspects engaging in the illegal oil bunkering were arrested in a separate incident.
The commander said even though the four suspects reside in Borikiri in Port Harcourt, they hail from the Southern Ijaw axis of Bayelsa State.
Ibrahim noted that the suspects confessed they were paid N20,000 to transport diesel from the creek to Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
He stated that the four suspects would be handed over to the appropriate agency for prosecution.
He, however, vowed that cartel involved in the act would be tracked down and duly arrested.
