JTF smashes militants' camp, shuts illegal refineries
(Nigeria) The Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, Operation
Pulo Shield said on Sunday that it had dismantled a militant camp in the
Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State.
A statement by the Media Coordinator of the JTF, Lt.-Col.
Onyema Nwachukwu, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said that various arms were
recovered from the camp.
``During the clamp down, the troops recovered 24 x 7.62mm
round cartons, five Browning Machine Gun, ammunition, 3 x 7.62mm round special
and seven live cartridges.
``Other items recovered from the camp include four machine
gun belts and one passport fibre boat, belonging to the Inland Water Ways
Agency,'' JTF stated.
According to Nwachukwu, the camp known in local parlance as
‘Efut Esighi Militant Camp, served as operational base for pirates and
militants from where they attacked their victims.
``JTF operatives destroyed three illegal crude oil
distillation camps concealed in a forest at Agbede village and Egwua 2 general
area of Esako West and Warri South West Local Government Areas of Edo and Delta
States,'' he said.
In a similar operation conducted in Bayelsa and Rivers
sectors, JTF troops shut down 56 illegal crude oil distillation camps.
The troops destroyed 16 Cotonou boats, 22 pumping machines,
a power generator, 25 zinc plates used for fabricating local crude oil
distillers, a welding machine and 32 sawed pipes used by oil thieves.
The troops also impounded four metal barges and a speed boat
caught engaging in illegal oil bunkering activities in the operation which took
place between November 11 and November 22.
Nwachukwu stated further that seven suspects were arrested
for oil theft-related offences and were currently undergoing preliminary
investigations.
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