JTF arrests 29 oil thieves, destroys 127 illegal refineries
(Nigeria) The Joint Military Task Force, JTF, in the Niger
Delta has nabbed 29 oil thieves and destroyed 127 illegal oil refineries in
various locations in the area.
The Media Coordinator of the JTF, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu,
who made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday in Yenagoa, said that the
anti-oil theft operations were carried out between September 16 and 28.
``Between September 16 and 28, we carried out multiple
anti-oil-theft operations in which a total of 29 suspects were arrested for oil
theft related offences.
``Anti-oil theft troops of the Joint Task Force `Operation
Pulo Shield’ also crushed 127 illegal crude oil distillation sites in the Niger
Delta.’’
The JTF spokesman explained that troops of the 19 and 3 Battalions
of the JTF, covering Edo and Delta also scuttled 24 illegal oil distillation
camps and 73 wooden boats.
``31 of the 73 boats were intercepted at an illegal crude
oil loading point close to an abandoned oil well-head in Okpoghare in Warri
North.’’
He said that another 27 arrested boats were intercepted in
Egara Creek in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta.
Nwachukwu said that the operation also swept through Ajide
in Lagos; Makara, Egwu Aghara Waterside in Warri North; West, Warri South West
and Ethiope West Local Government Areas of Delta.
``JTF operatives also intercepted 61 pieces of 75 HP speed
boats and a truck laden with 33,000 litres of automated gas oil in the afore
mentioned areas which are notorious for oil theft.
``502 drums, 22 steel tanks, four plastic surface tanks, 77
metal drums laden with stolen crude oil and four pumping machines used by the
oil thieves were also scuttled during the operation,’’ Nwachukwu said.
Also in Bayelsa, JTF troops of the 343 Regiment, patrolling
the waterways of Oyeregbere, Lagosbene and Mansokiri communities in Southern
Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, destroyed 98 illegal crude oil dumps.
The JTF spokesman said that 119 illegal distillation tanks
and 37 large open wooden boats, laden with stolen crude oil and illegally
distilled automated gas oil were destroyed by troops.
He said that troops of the 29 Battalion and its Gunboat
Patrol Team, covering the Sector 2 area of Bayelsa, in a separate
anti-oil-theft operation, arrested a vessel, MT Tora Eagle with 11 crew
members.
``The troops also arrested a barge with three crew members
along Bodo Waterway and Akassa Creek in Rivers and Bayelsa, respectively.
``The barge was intercepted while conveying uncertain
quantity of illegally obtained crude oil, while the vessel was laden with 3,600
drums of stolen petroleum products.
``The troops also scuttled five illegal crude oil
distillation sites and 10 wooden boats filled with stolen crude oil along Lewe,
Bodo, Elem Sagangama, Oluwasiri and Bodo West in Rivers State.’’
Nwachukwu said that all the suspects were undergoing
preliminary investigations, after which they would be handed over to relevant
prosecuting agencies for prosecution.
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