Troops of 29 and 5 Battalions of Sector 2 anti illegal oil bunkering
patrol squads of the Joint Task Force OPERATION PULO SHIELD have impounded
20 wooden barges and 5 fibre boats conveying stolen crude oil estimated to
be about 213,000 litres in the Niger Delta.
The barges and 2 pumping machines were intercepted in Bodo West, Rivers
state and Azagbene creek in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa
state.
During the operation, the troops also uncovered and scuttled 2 active
illegal oil refinery sites concealed in the woods along Biara farmland in
Akpor Gokana Local Government Area and Ajudaigbo general area in Warri
South Local Government Areas of Rivers and Delta states respectively.
Eighteen surface tanks, 11 drums, 4 Plastic tanks, 2 pumping machines and
hoses of various sizes and lengths were scuttled during the clamp down.
In a similar operation, troops of 222 Battalion of Sector 1 of the Joint
Task Force deployed in Kokori flow station in Delta state have arrested 3
suspects for illegally siphoning crude oil from Well Head 14 flow station
into a truck .
The suspects had already loaded the truck with 20 drums filled with stolen
crude oil before they were intercepted. The suspects are currently in the
custody of 222 Battalion assisting in the preliminary investigations
before they will be transferred to a relevant prosecuting agency.
Meanwhile, troops of 343 Regiment of Sector 2 of the JTF in renewed vigour
to combat illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta have conducted a
surprise cordon and search operation in Igbematoru community in Southern
Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The combined troops of 343 Regiment, Nigerian Police and Nigerian Security
and Civil Defence Corps carried out the search on the hideouts of
identified suspected illegal oil bunkerers in the community.
The operation was informed by the disturbing fact that Igbematoru has been
high on the graph of occurrences of illegal oil bunkering in Bayelsa
state, consequently necessitating the operation.
The cordon and search operation which was successfully executed has so far
yielded positive results as our troops have recovered several tools used
for illegal bunkering including 103 pumping machines, 32 hoses of various
lengths and diameters, 17 hard saw machines and 8 adjustable spanners.
The troops also scuttled 3 illegal refineries and recovered a large wooden
boat (Cotonu boat), 178 drums, 86 jerry cans and several polythene bags
concealed in sacks, all laden with stolen crude oil during the operation.
Four suspects arrested in the cordon and search operation are currently
being processed for handing over to appropriate prosecutorial agency.