Nigerian Army Unveils ‘New Dimension’ of Oil Theft in Rivers: Discovery of Deep, Illegal Wells
In a startling revelation, the Nigerian Army has uncovered more than 40 illicit oil wells in the Rumuekpe community of Rivers State, Nigeria. Major General Jamal Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division Army Headquarters in Port Harcourt, described this discovery as a “new dimension” in the battle against oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
These clandestine wells, measuring approximately 12 feet by 12 feet and extending 40 feet deep, represent a novel approach to circumventing pipelines. Rather than tapping into pipelines directly, these wells access oil reservoirs underground.
General Abdussalam, leading a “Sweep and Clear” operation along the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline, characterized the finding as revealing the ever-evolving strategies employed by oil thieves.
“They are dug out directly into the ground like wells and surprisingly have access to crude oil,” the GOC stated, expressing his surprise at this novel method. “This is entirely a new dimension. This is not an issue of pipeline vandalism.”
The army stumbled upon the site while responding to complaints from the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) about breaches in the pipeline. Their intention is to establish a permanent presence at the location to discourage further illicit activities.
One of the apprehended suspects disclosed that their operation involved digging until reaching gas pockets, at which point they would extract oil once the gas dissipated.
According to the suspect, individuals within the community claim ownership of the site and compensate diggers with N40,000 per well.
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General Abdussalam pledged to escalate this matter to the appropriate authorities and reaffirmed the army’s dedication to eliminating such criminal endeavors from the region. The investigation remains ongoing, with the detained individuals currently held in custody.
