Surveillance contractors have uncovered a crude oil tapping point in the Oloma community of Bonny Local Government Area in Rivers, Southern Nigeria.
The point was found on the Trans Niger Pipeline, which is owned by the Shell Petroleum Development Company.
Graham Pepple, the Secretary of the Oil Assets Surveillance Contractors Forum in Bonny Kingdom, revealed to reporters in Port Harcourt on Saturday that an illicit loading point was discovered on the Trans Niger Pipeline, a property of the Shell Petroleum Development Company.
“We implore all relevant security forces, including the military, police, and civil defense, to conduct an investigation into the unlawful oil loading point located at Ogbonga, Oloma community.
“This illicit connection appears to have been established to supply illegal refineries from the TNP Line. We strongly urge the security authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to identify those involved in setting up this bunkering line.”
He expressed his group’s concern about the ongoing criminal activities despite the presence of houseboat stations manned by security agencies in the vicinity.
“It is surprising that despite the significant presence of army and navy houseboats stationed around the location, loading of illegally refined products via a line illicitly connected to the TNP at Ogbonga area of Bonny Island continues.”
As a Surveillance Contractor with SPDC, Pepple added, “We are not making any assumptions at this point. All we are asking is for the security high commands to conduct thorough investigations to understand the situation better. We are ready to provide any necessary information”.