JTF arrests 29 oil thieves, destroys 127 illegal refineries

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, Lieutenant- Colonel 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 September 28.
“Between 16th and 28th of Sept., 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.
“Thirty-one 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 aforementioned areas which are notorious for oil theft.”
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