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Crude oil theft: Operation Delta Safe ex-commander blames security personnel, others

A former commander of Operation Delta Safe between 2016 and 2019, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, alleged on Friday that crude oil theft in the Niger Delta is often carried out in connivance with operators of the oil well, security agents, and sponsors of the nefarious activities.

The retired Air Force officer who spoke in Abuja during the second day of the investigative hearing into crude oil theft and revenue losses, chaired by Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, said there is no way crude oil can get stolen from the nation’s export pipeline without the collaboration of the three groups.

According to him, nobody will attempt to take crude from the pipeline when there is a flow of crude because the pressure through the lines is enough to kill anybody, while the pipelines have security agents who are supposed to carry out 24-hour surveillance of the pipeline.

He said, “The pressure of flow on the lines is usually very high, and nobody can afford to take crude illegally from the pipelines when there is crude on the line. It can only happen when there is no crude, and only one set of people will be aware when the pipeline is dry.

“What that means is that those who operate the lines are working with the sponsors of these criminal gangs to steal our crude, and these are people who are well known. If I mention NES here, you will be shocked.

“Also, security agents are also part of this arrangement because they are supposed to keep vigil on these lines throughout the day. But we have the vessels coming to the pipelines, stopping, taking crude unchallenged, and leaving without anyone challenging them. Where are these security men who are supposed to guard these pipelines?

“The big boys who have money are the ones who work with these other two to create a passage for these boys to connect to the pipelines and carry out their nefarious activities successfully.”

He, however, disclosed that while in charge of Operation Delta Safe, the country was able to increase its crude oil production from about 900 barrels per day to about 1,500 barrels per day as of the time he left the service.

He also said that while in command, he was able to stop many criminal gangs operating in the area, while some vessels arrested were destroyed.

He said the only way crude oil theft can be brought to an end is for the country to ensure that there are no sacred cows and those arrested are brought to book.

Also in their presentation, the Department of State Services called for strengthening existing laws to ensure that those involved are promptly brought to justice.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Special Committee Investigating Crude Oil, Hon. Ado-Doguwa, has assured that the panel will ensure that all available legislative tools are used to guide the process of protecting crude oil.

He said, “The committee aims to collaborate with global partners, leverage cutting-edge technologies, and enhance security architecture to effectively address and eliminate crude oil theft in the hydrocarbon value chain.”

While expressing grave concern over the 900 reported infractions on its pipelines, he observed that delayed judicial processes have led to the abandonment of most cases, thereby allowing culprits to resume their criminal activities.

The presence of sophisticated illegal infrastructure for exploring and refining crude oil has significantly reduced production from 2,500,000 Bpd to 1,300,000 Bpd.”

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