JTF Recovers Arms, Made Arrest, Destroys illegal refineries
By Suleiman Bello
Military Joint Task Force on the trail of illegal oil bunkering and kidnappers in the Niger Delta yesterday announced the recovery of arms.
According to statement by Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, JTF media Coordinator, the operations of the task force is yielding results.
He said, the task force while on pipeline patrol at Ijomu, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta, recovered two AK-47 rifles and two magazines loaded with 48 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
The troops, he revealed discovered an illegal oil refinery at Egbokodo Itshekiri General Area in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta, from where three locally made boats, one pumping machine and a water hose were recovered.
“Also discovered and destroyed were a speed boat and 16 Cotonou boats containing suspected stolen crude oil at Okpogbene Egwa General Area in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta,” Anka said.
He added that in another operation, a house suspected to be used for storing illegally refined automotive gas oil at Oghareki waterside in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta was discovered by the troops.
“The troops arrested one suspect with 2,000 units of 50-litre jerry cans filled with suspected illegally refined AGO.
“The JTF also seized a white tanker with registration number XC 171 AJI which was filled with suspected illegally refined AGO on the Patani – Warri road,’’ he said and added the truck was used to siphon crude oil from the Oghara – Iyede pipeline in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta.
Also according to him the troop in conjunction with Agbara-Oto Vigilance Group arrested three suspected kidnappers at Omavovwe Agbarho community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta.
He said an unregistered Nissan salon car was recovered from the suspects who have been handed over to the police for further action.
The troops also foiled an attempt by a group of suspected kidnappers to abduct a woman at Eko in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta.
“The rescue operation witnessed a gun duel that claimed the life of a suspect while others escaped. Items recovered included one Berretta pistol, a locally made short barrel gun and a mask.
“The corpse of the suspect and recovered items were handed over to the police at Isiokolo in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta,” he said.
