By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered an illegal local refinery at Otamiri-Etche, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, which steals crude from OML17 fields operated by Heirs Holding Oil and Gas Limited.
Speaking, the NSCDC Commandant in Rivers State, Mr Michael Besong Ogar, lamented that the Command, for the first time, was witnessing a new strategy of operations by illegal oil thieves.
The NSCDC boss in Rivers State disclosed that an investigation was already ongoing to unravel the owners and sponsors of such a gigantic illegal refinery in the area and also warned oil thieves and operators of local refineries in the state to either relocate or face the full wrath of the law.
He added that Heirs Holding Oil and Gas Limited would be notified to extract the crude oil back, while the Corps’ Intelligence and Antivandal Squads will continue to chase the perpetrators till they are brought into custody and charged to court.
“I must confess that this is the first time of witnessing a well-fabricated illegal refinery with such a wide range of pipes laid across the area; as you can see how big the land is, you can also imagine how unscrupulous people can be despite the continuous fight against illegal dealings in petroleum products.
“We were able to uncover this illegal bunkering site based on sustained intelligence; the perpetrators tapped into Heir Holding Oil and Gas facility through the pipeline bulk delivery and syphoned crude oil through carefully constructed pipes to their illegal local refinery.
“We have commenced an intense investigation into the matter, someone must have given out this expanse of land to the thieves, and through the owner of the land, we will unravel the mystery behind this economic sabotage.
“The NSCDC has a clear statutory mandate to safeguard critical national assets and Infrastructures across the federation, we will not be deterred or distracted by the activities of oil thieves in the State. Without compromise, we will go after them and ensure that the illegal dealings in petroleum products are reduced drastically in order to boost the nation’s economy again.”
The Nigerian government had last year promised an intense crackdown on oil thieves who have significantly reduced the wealth of the nation as it was not able to boost overall oil production.
Through support from the federal government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, several agencies, including the NSCDC, have engaged in raids to combat theft.
Recently, the country said following its moves to combat the scourge of theft, it is targeting a 1.6 million barrels per day production level.
