July 12, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Navy has uncovered a huge mechanism, installed in the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 wellhead, used to siphon crude oil into waiting barges.
The OML 18 wellhead is owned and operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
Commander, Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Commodore Sulaiman Ibrahim, confirmed the development to newsmen during a tour of the site, at Kala Ekweama community, in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers.
Ibrahim narrated to the newsmen, saying “The terrain (site) was discovered by our naval helicopter on routine aerial patrol of the waterways and creeks in our area of responsibility.
“Immediately after it was spotted, we deployed our gunboats to the site and kept watch of the facility to ensure the illegality perpetrated here is discontinued.
“The Nigeria Navy has put everything on the ground to ensure that it curbs illegal crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.”
Ibrahim said troops recovered from the already sabotaged facility, boats, equipment and other machines, being used to steal crude oil from the wellhead.
“We have contacted the operators of OML 18 to send their technical team and skilled manpower, but the team said the wellhead has been greatly compromised.
“So, all efforts to get products out (of the wellhead) has been quite difficult at the moment except higher skilled and technical team are brought in. However, we are fully on the ground and committed to curbing all activities of oil thieves in this general area and the region at large.
“The Federal Government is aware of the efforts of the armed forces and in particular the navy in doing everything humanly possible to stop oil theft in the country.
“Some people have alleged that military personnel connive with oil thieves, and I have on several occasions challenged them to name such personnel so that they can be shamed”, he said.
