Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd (PINL), a pipeline security contractor, has uncovered a logistics company at Eleme, Rivers State, allegedly being used as a camouflage for illegal bunkering on the 28-inche Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) along the Ebubu new road by Eleme Trailer Park, adjourning to the East – West Road.
PINL, working in synergy with security agencies, arrested seven persons including two officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) deployed to the logistics company.
The suspects are currently assisting the security agencies in their investigations.
Also intercepted were two trailer trucks with capacity of 45,000 litres each and specially constructed for the operation and caught inside the company, Igor Logistics Services Ltd, loading crude from a valve less than 200 meters away.
It was gathered that while the two NSCDC officers and a security guard of the company were arrested on the night/morning of October 6 and 7, 2024, respectively, during the operation, the four other suspects, including the manager of the company, his assistant and two others, were arrested on October 10, by officers from the NSCDC Rivers State Command.
According to Patrick Onogwu, Senior Manager, Security and Government Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, who conducted journalists around the scene of the incident, the arrest was made possible by surveillance personnel of PINL who gave credible intelligence about crude oil thieves operating along that axis.
Onogwu said based on the information, closer attention was paid to the security of the area, which eventually led to the bursting of the illegal operations going on in the company.
He said: “The company’s primary business is the processing and export of precious stones, including quartz, iron and glass sand to China through the Onne port.
“The oil thieves were capitalising on the proximity to the company of a valve on the TNP, which is less than 200 meters away from the logistics company. So they tapped the valve and connected a hose which they pass through a hole on the company fence into the main compound to load the crude.”
According to Onogwu, the closeness of the valve to the company made the operation of the crude oil thieves easy so that they would not need a pumping machine.
“They just connected a 9-inch hose from which they load their trucks usually concealed in front of the weighing bridge of the company,” he added.
“It is an operation that can only be detected by careful monitoring by security agencies considering the busy activities of the company and the smart way the illegal bunkerers managed to conceal their operations.”
He explained to journalists how the hoodlums were uncovered and arrested.
“Five days ago, we got intels that they loaded three trucks from this compound. The trucks they loaded, they use 40-feet containers, build a tank right inside the container as a disguise. Once you see a container like that, you think it’s carrying normal products. And they use this customs seal to seal the truck then they transport it to Akwa Ibom State.
“Now each time these trucks come out of this compound, you know there will be no suspicion. It is, that’s okay, this is a normal logistics company, they deal in precious stones and all of that.”
He added that the thieves ran out of luck that night when they came for another loading.
“They load like four times a week; so, they brought in two trucks. Two 45,000 liters capacity trucks, Darf model, loaded the first one and they were on the second one when the supervisor for Gbenisolo the second layer surveillance company for PINL, who was on patrol perceived the odour of crude and raised the alarm,” he stressed.
“With that we quickly alerted our team from the Ogale camp, under the 29th Battalion, which responded. Led by one Captain Chibok, they came and upon arrival, they met two officers from the Rivers State command of the NSCDC.
“Those officers were the ones deployed to the company to guard it. In the process because the officers were involved in the crime they tried to cause some delays, which alerted the principal suspects inside who scaled the fence and escaped into the bush.
“The second NSCDC officer also tried to escape but was eventually caught when they were combing the bush. They have been transferred to NSCDC headquarters for further investigation.”
It was gathered that the company has been sealed with a combined team of the military and NSCDC stationed there while investigations continue.
Also, a joint venture JV inspection has been conducted on the valve and remedial work has also commenced on the line.
