Oil theft surveillance team discovers major illegal tap on pipeline, TNP in Rivers

Oil Assets Surveillance Contractors Forum, OASCF, has discovered a major tapping on the Trans-Niger Pipeline, TNP, used by oil thieves in syphoning crude from the facility in Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers state. The team, which uncovered the crude oil theft point at Ogbonga, Oloma community have called on security agencies to move in to open investigations into the development. Graham Pepple, the Secretary of OASCF in Bonny Kingdom, who expressed the group’s concern said they discovered the illegal loading point on the Trans-Niger Pipeline, TNP, a facility belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.

Pepple said “we call on the military, police, civil defense, all relevant security high commands to move in to investigate the illegal oil loading point sited at Ogbonga, Oloma community. The illegal connection (IC) was found to have been installed for purpose of feeding illegally refineries from the TNP Line. We urged the security authority to carry out proper investigation to ascertain those involved in the installation of the bunkering line. 

“We are surprised that despite robust presence of the army and navy houseboats stationed around the said location, loading of illegally refined products via a line illegally connected to the TNP at Ogbonga area of Bonny Island is still going on. Pepple further noted that the surveillance firm which works for SPDC would not want to jump into conclusion on who operates the illegal loading point, adding that proper investigation should be done to unravel the operators. “We are not jumping to any conclusion. All we can say for now is for the security high commands to move for thorough investigations to ascertain what the situation is. We are on ground to assist with useful information,” he said.