Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo
Shield, on Sunday said that it arrested eight suspected oil
thieves and destroyed 17 illegal refineries in multiple raids.
A statement issued by Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, Media
Coordination of JTF in Yenagoa, said the anti-oil theft raids
were conducted from Feb. 11 to Feb. 18.
Nwachukwu said that several items were seized during the
operation in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo.
He said that the JTF troops in Edo and Delta destroyed five
illegal oil distillation sites and 40 boats and seized 300 metal
tanks, 64 plastic storage tanks, 72 drums and 68 cooking
ovens.
He added that four pumping machines and one Lister
Generator were seized at Warri South-West Local
Government Area, Delta.
The spokesman said the troops also intercepted a locally made
tug boat conveying 30 drums of stolen petroleum at Ajide on
Benin River in Edo.
He said that six suspects were arrested during the operation
and moved to the Tactical Headquarters of the Battalions for
preliminary investigation.
In another development, Nwachukwu said JTF personnel
patrolling the waterways and creeks on Soku-Ofumakiri,
Bolo, Oloma and Isaka in Rivers, destroyed four illegal
refineries.
He said 40 cooking ovens, 30 plastic storage tanks, 50 drums,
one welding machine, two pumping machines and a 45 KVA
generator were seized.
He said two suspects arrested in the operation were assisting
investigators at the Sector 2 of the JTF in Port Harcourt.
"Our troops patrolling the waterways in Bayelsa have
shutdown eight illegal crude oil distillation sites.
"The troops also destroyed six "cotonou" boats used by oil
thieves in Tebidaba and Igbematoru communities of Southern
Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
"The operatives also destroyed 69 metal drums and two
pumping machines used by the oil thieves to operate their
illegal refineries," Nwachukwu said.
He said that the eight suspects would be handed over to
relevant prosecuting agencies after preliminary investigations.
Via: NAN
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