PINL busts illegal oil bunkering operation in Rivers

The Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited said it uncovered a logistics company in Eleme, Rivers State, Igor Logistics Services Limited, which is used as a camouflage for illegal bunkering activities on the 28-inch Trans-Niger pipeline.

The PINL said the location was the Ebubu new road adjourning the East-West Road in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

The Senior Manager, Security and Government, PINL, Dr Patrick Onogwu, disclosed this while conducting newsmen around the scene on Sunday.

Onogwu added that two operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed to the logistics company and some staff were arrested, adding that the suspects are currently assisting security agencies in their investigations.

Onogwu said the arrests were made possible by surveillance personnel of the PINL who gave credible intelligence about crude oil thieves operating along that axis, adding that based on the information, closer security attention was paid to the area, which eventually led to the bursting of the illegal operations going on in the company.

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 in Rivers State.

Onogwu said the oil thieves were capitalising on the proximity to the company of a valve on the TNP, which is less than 200m away from the logistics company.

He said, “So, they tapped the valve and connected a hose which they passed through a hole on the company’s fence into the main compound to load the crude.

“The closeness of the valve to the company made the operation of the crude oil thieves easy that they wouldn’t 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.

“Five days ago, we got intel that they loaded three trucks from this compound. The trucks they loaded, used 40-foot containers and built a tank right inside the container as a disguise. Once you see a container like that, you’ll think it’s carrying normal products. They used this customs seal to seal the truck then they transported it to Akwa-Ibom State.

“Now, each time these trucks come out of this compound, you know there will be no suspicion. This is a normal logistics company, they deal in precious stone and all of that.”

He added that the suspects ran out of luck that night when they came for another loading.

The PINL boss stressed that the company had loaded a 45,000-litre capacity truck before the supervisor of the second layer surveillance company, who was on patrol, perceived the odour of crude and raised the alarm.

“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 combining the bush. They have been transferred to the NSCDC headquarters for further investigation,” he added.

Our correspondent reports that the company has been sealed with a combined team of the military and NSCDC who had been stationed there.

When contacted, the spokesman for the NSCDC, Rivers State Command, Olufemi Ayodele, said he had received calls on the incident but that he had yet to receive any official report on it.

Ayodele added, “Well when I get to the office tomorrow (Monday), I will find out and get back to you. “