NEWS: NIGERIA - Crude theft: Kachikwu’s war yields result, 20 vandals arrested

The war against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has led to
the arrest of 20 suspects.
A combined team of Navy, army and other security agencies collaborating with the NNPC/Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to monitor and patrol pipelines arrested the suspects.


According to the PPMC, a patrol team between the Atlas Cove and Mosimi depot intercepted the suspects.
The PPMC said the 20-man syndicate was specifically smashed at the Ilado/Ilase pipeline axis. The syndicate has a woman as member.
The PPMC said: “In line with the directives of Mr. President to ensure zero tolerance against crude oil theft and pipeline vandals, the measures put in place by Kachikwu have started achieving positive results.
“These are notorious members of a gang engaging in pipeline vandalism and product theft along the Ilado/Ilase pipeline axis.
“Also confiscated from the vandals were two Hilux trucks, with thousands of jerry cans filled with petroleum products, equipment and several generators.


“The suspected vandals have been taken into custody at the Nigerian Naval Base, Western Command, Apapa and are awaiting further interrogation.
On her part, Managing Director of PPMC, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, said the agency in the last two weeks had recorded a lot of success along the Atlas Cove and Mosimi axis of the pipeline with renewed collaboration with security agencies.
She said: “The PPMC will collaborate with the Nigerian Navy, the Army and other security agencies to ensure that they put a total stop to the vandals’ activities.

“We hope that those apprehended will soon be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent for others to desist from these nefarious activities.”
The PPMC recently confirmed that the nation lost about N50 billion in 10 months due to vandalism of petroleum pipeline in some parts of the country.

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