Operatives of the Joint Military Task Force-code named Operation Pulo Shield, has confirmed the discovery of stolen crude oil in juju shrines and septic tanks in some communities of Delta and Bayelsa states.
According to the JTF, to avoid detection from security agencies, the stolen crude oil were buried inside traditional grounds, Juju shrines, sitting rooms of a house and septic tanks.
According to a statement signed by the coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of the Task Force, Lt.Col.Mustapha Anka, “the illegal oil bunkering squad of the Joint Task Force- Operation Pulo Shield uncovered the new tactics applied by oil thieves and illegal oil thieves operating in the Niger Delta region following the seizure of a sewage truck with 12,000 capacity loaded with stolen crude.’’
Anka, in the statement said ” the sewage truck was intercepted along Ibada Amukpe community in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State. The truck was declared to be carrying waste and heading to disposal dump by the occupants of the truck, but was discovered to be carrying illegally acquired crude oil. Both the suspects and the product are in the custody of the JTF for preliminary investigation before handing them over to prosecuting agency.
Meanwhile, the troops attached to the JTF launched a security check against supposed criminals in Bayelsa State and discovered one AK 47 assault rifle with registration number- CK28817.
The statement further says, “One foreign made Barrel gun and a locally made single barrel with 12 live cartridges were also recovered. No arrest was made as the criminals had escaped before the arrival of the troops. The weapons and the cartridges are said to be in JTF custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the criminals.”
Comments