No fewer than 21 alleged oil thieves have been arrested while several illegal oil bunkering sites were destroyed in a multiple raid by the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield in the Niger Delta.
The Media Coordinator of JTF, Lt.-Col. Ado Isa disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
According to the Media Coordinator, the raids were carried out within 10 days.
He stated that JTF operatives deployed to Oka pipeline in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo intercepted an oil truck with REG number – EDO BEN 117 ZN used in the operations of illegal bunkering.
Isa revealed that the intercepted truck at the time of arrest was loaded with 16 plastic tanks of 1500 litres capacity which was been used in siphoning illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.
The JTF mouthpiece noted that the products were estimated to be about 24,000 litres, alleging that they were illegally siphoned from an NNPC pipeline.
He further stated that some of the vandals fled the scene upon the arrival of JTF operatives, adding that the truck was intercepted and investigation into the incident has commenced.
Isa stressed that some of the the suspects were apprehended at Ughelli-Warri and Orerokpe Community in Okpe and Ughelli North Local Government Areas of Delta.
He affirmed that the troops recovered the following items from the suspects: Rolls of stolen armored cable, two circuit breaker, 12 cutouts, two saw blades and bags of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
The spokesman added that upon completion of investigation, the recovered items would be handed over to the prosecuting agency.
He also revealed that the troops arrested an illegal oil bunkering tanker carrying 33,000 litres of substances alleged to be illegally refined AGO.
Isa revealed that five suspects were nabbed while attempting to escape, adding that the truck was confiscated.
In a similar vein, Isa said the JTF caught a notorious kidnapper who allegedly abducted one Mrs Ufoma James, adding that the alleged kidnapper was arrested at Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
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