The Nigerian Navy has commenced the excavation and dismantling of oil equipment belonging to a suspected high-profile oil syndicate at well 17 of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 in Elem-Krakama Creeks, Degema Council of Rivers State. The Navy discovered illegal oil mining activities in the area during a patrol helicopter operation on July 11. In collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Navy moved its equipment to excavate multiple buried pipes and other facilities used in siphoning crude through the vandalized wellhead.
The Navy had previously uncovered two tapped wellheads at Kala Ekweama and Krakama creeks in Asari-Toru and Degema councils of Rivers State within the OML 18 oil field. The newly dug wellhead at Elem-Krakama, known as well 17, had not yet been commissioned due to regulatory requirements.
Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Commodore Sulaiman Ibrahim, expressed astonishment at the level of sophistication displayed by the oil thieves, suggesting the involvement of a high-level syndicate rather than petty thieves or amateurs. The Navy is conducting investigations and working with other security agencies to track down those involved in the illegal activities. Although no arrests have been made thus far, four suspects connected to oil bunkering were apprehended by the Navy’s patrol team. The suspects, residents of Borokiri in Port Harcourt but hailing from Southern Ijaw Council in Bayelsa State, confessed to being paid to transport diesel from the creeks to Port Harcourt. They will be handed over to prosecuting agencies for further action.
