Startling findings were made yesterday in Warri, Delta State, by the pipeline surveillance group recently recruited by the Federal Government for the protection of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.
Fifteen illegal hot lines deftly plugged into the Trans-Escravos pipeline at various locations in the riverside communities, were discovered by Tantita Security Services Limited, which took top security operatives and oil industry leaders, including Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, and Group Managing Director, NNPC Ltd, Dr. Mele Kolo Kyari, heads of other security arms to some of the sites.
Briefing the team, the Managing Director, Tantita, Chief Keston Pondi, said the tap lines used by the criminal gangs were discovered during ongoing major operations by the firm recently.
Pondi said, “Only God knows how many more points we are going to see as we go further. As at this moment, we have discovered 15 points so far. The identified 15 points were attached to the Trans Escravos pipeline at different locations.
“From the look of things, this has been on for a long time. Getting to this level is not easy. It needs a lot of effort and intelligence.”
Pondi barely stopped short of accusing a multinational oil company and some oil industry operators of complicity.
However, oil industry experts hinted to our reporter that the lines have the capacity to transport several thousand barrels of crude oil daily, stressing that such activities were responsible for the drop in the nation’s export capacity.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government recently re-awarded the oil surveillance contracts to companies owned by some Niger Delta stakeholders, including Chief Government Ekpemolo (through Tantita).
The company representative noted, “We were hinted on the two illegal attachments that were foiled; we are still escalating, and we are combing this line up to Ogidigben to Madangho (in Warri Southwest LGA) of Delta State.”
Illegal tapping is professionally done, the culprits must be dealt with – CDS, NNPC GMD
Speaking on the discovery, the CDS expressed shock at the sophistry of the operation, describing the operation as an “eye-opener”, and vowing to ensure a thorough and complete investigation into the operation.
“We are going to ensure an expensive investigation into the whole revelation to get to the roots with a view to reviewing the entire security architecture across the board, among other issues”.
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NNPC GMD – Engr. Mele Kolo Kyari described the illegal attachments on the Trans Escravos pipeline as “professionally done”, noting that the “illegal refiners connected this to an inactive pipeline which should not carry crude in a normal instance.
“We have seen that this line flow all the way parallel to the two other active Trans Escravos pipelines and this is a good revelation. That is why the Chief of Defence Staff has clearly said that an extensive investigation will be conducted.
“Anyone involved in this matter, either from the host community, community contractors, government security agencies, or workers of the oil companies including NNPC and Shell will be dealt with by the law.
We are presently getting massive support from the intervention of the government security agencies notably the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army, the NSCDC, etc as we have seen the massive campaigns in this regard as coordinated by the Chief of Defence Staff. The intervention is really paying off.”
We expect a backlash from operations – Tompolo
In a related development, Chief Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), has alerted on the possible backlash from the operators of the illegal pipelines, noting, “those involved are not unlikely to fight.”
While assuring of his determination to end illegal bunkering, citing the effect of ecology and environment, he said, we are not too scared of our people. We are more scared of people with guns that are involved in these activities than people without guns.”
Speaking through Kestin Pondi, he said, “We are more scared of the GSAs that are accomplices in this, and the oil multinationals than we are afraid of our people.
“Tompolo is 100 percent committed to eradicating this menace of illegal oil theft and refining from the Niger Delta.
He warned those who have operated unhindered for years to detach and leave the area or face dire consequences from the surveillance team, warning that it would not be business as usual.
Story By
Shola O’Neil, Regional Editor, P’Harcourt, and Polycap Orosevwotu, Ughelli