Military Arrests 21 Suspected Oil Thieves, Destroys Illegal Oil Sites

This was disclosed by the Media Coordinator of JTF, Lt.-Col. Ado Isa via a statement in Yenagoa on Thursday.

According to Col. Isa the raids were conducted within 10 days, adding that the troops deployed to Oka pipeline in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo impounded an illegal oil bunkering truck with registration number EDO BEN 117 ZN, loaded with 16 plastic tanks of 1500 litres capacity, siphoning illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) at the time of arrest.

During the operation, according to the spokesman, products estimated to be about 24,000 litres were suspected to have been illegally siphoned from the NNPC pipeline.

He added that while some suspects were nabbed at Ughelli-Warri and Orerokpe Community in Okpe and Ughelli North Local Government Areas of Delta.

According to the spokesman, items recovered from the suspects were rolls of stolen armored cable, two circuit breaker, 12 cut-outs, two saw blades and bags of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

He revealed further that JTF troops also apprehended an illegal oil bunkering tanker laden with 33,000 litres of substances suspected to be illegally refined AGO.

Atthe scene, he said, five suspects had been arrested while trying to flee while their truck was impounded.

In related development, Sector 2 of the JTF operating on Gbenekrukru general area of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, destroyed six illegal bunkering sites where oil thieves operated.

He listed items found and destroyed at the site to included four storage tanks, illegal oil storage pits and drums filled with illegally acquired AGO, hoses and pumping machine.