Crude theft: Kachikwu's war yields result, 20 arrested

* We’ll deal with vandals, PPMC boss vows 

The Minister of State for Petroleum and the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu’s war against crude oil thieves and pipeline vandalism yesterday yielded fruit as 20 suspected oil thieves were arrested.

It was gathered that the suspects were arrested by a combined team of Nigerian Navy, the Army and other security agencies. These security agencies had been collaborating with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to monitor and patrol pipelines.

The PPMC said that the suspects were intercepted by patrol teams between the Atlas Cove and Mosimi Depot.

The PPMC said that the 20-man syndicate, including a woman, was smashed at the Ilado/Ilase Pipeline axis.

The PPMC added: "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.
"Between the Atlas Cove and Mosimi Depot, a team of Nigerian Navy, the Army and other security
agencies collaborating with the NNPC/PPMC apprehended a 20-man syndicate group which included a woman. These are notorious members of gang engaging in pipeline vandalism and product theft
along the Ilado/Ilase pipeline axis.” 

PPMC said that 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 had been taken into custody at the Nigerian Naval Base, Western Command, Apapa and are awaiting further interrogation.

The 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. 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 to others."
The PPMC recently confirmed that the nation lost about N50 billion in 10 months as a result of vandalism of petroleum pipelines in some parts of the country.