In a new development in the ongoing battle against oil theft in Nigeria, undercover investigations have exposed a sophisticated crude oil bunkering operation embedded within a logistics company primarily processing solid minerals for export. The operation, uncovered by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd (PINL) in collaboration with federal security agencies, has led to the arrest of seven individuals, including two officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) allegedly complicit in the scheme.
The covert operation, which had been running undetected for an extended period, came to light when intelligence indicated that a logistics facility in Eleme, Rivers State, was serving as a front for illegal crude oil extraction from the 28-inch Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP). This pipeline is crucial as it is currently one of the few delivering crude oil for export, amidst Nigeria’s struggle to regain its full export capacity.
Dr. Patrick Onogwu, a senior manager at PINL, took journalists on a tour of the site, explaining how the bunkering gang connected a valve to the TNP, situated a mere 200 meters from the logistics company. “They used a 9-inch hose to load their trucks, concealing the operation right in front of the facility’s weighing bridge,” he detailed, revealing the ingenuity of the criminals who designed their trucks to resemble the logistics company’s vehicles.
According to Dr. Onogwu, the gang would typically load two trucks nightly and transport the stolen crude oil to Akwa Ibom State. “Just five days before the operation was busted, we received intelligence that they had loaded three trucks,” he said, noting that the criminals used specially constructed 40-foot containers to disguise their illicit cargo, sealing them with customs tags to evade detection.
The breakthrough came on the night of October 6, 2024, when a well-coordinated operation involving military personnel and NSCDC officers led to the arrest of the logistics company’s manager, his assistant, and three others. The investigation revealed that the two NSCDC officers assigned to protect the facility were, in fact, colluding with the oil thieves.
“Once we received credible intelligence, we ramped up our surveillance and security measures,” Dr. Onogwu explained. The operation’s success not only disrupted illegal activities but also emphasized the critical role of collaboration between various security agencies in combating oil theft, which poses a severe threat to Nigeria’s economy.
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Following the arrests, the site has been sealed off, with military and NSCDC personnel stationed to secure the area while further investigations are conducted. A joint venture inspection has also been initiated on the compromised valve, with remedial work already underway.
It is worth noting that the implicated logistics company, primarily engaged in processing and exporting minerals such as quartz and iron to China through the Onne Port, now faces scrutiny as authorities work to unravel the full extent of the criminal network operating within its premises.
It bears mentioning that the fate of the arrested individuals remains unclear, but given the strategic importance of the TNP, the federal government is likely to treat the matter with the utmost seriousness. Ayodeji Olufemi, the public relations officer of the Rivers State command of the NSCDC, acknowledged the sensitivity of the situation but indicated that he was yet to receive details on the arrests.
