The Nigerian government’s military crackdown against the theft of crude in the Niger River delta has left more than a 1,000 makeshift refineries in flames, worsening pollution in the area, authorities say.
A military taskforce deployed last year to stop theft and protect facilities in Africa’s top oil producer has destroyed 1,819 makeshift refineries, set ablaze 861 boats carrying as much as 20,000 liters (5,277 gallons) each of illegally refined crude and 51 tanker trucks, force commander Major General Bata Debiro said Thursday at a conference on crude theft in Lagos.
The military’s actions also contributed to pollution in the delta, Nigerian Maritime Safety Agency Director-General Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi told the meeting.
“Security operatives blowing up things is causing more pollution,” he said.
Security forces have been struggling to halt oil theft in the country. Authorities say more than 400,000 barrels of oil are stolen every day. Nigeria pumped about 1.9 million barrels a day last month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Debiro’s 6,102 soldiers and police are operating in a 70,000 square-kilometer (27,027 square-mile) region of land, mangroves and creeks that is filled with pipelines. That area is bigger than the U.S. state of West Virginia.
