JTF shuts 56 illegal refineries •Destroys militants’ camp

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.

A statement by the Media Coordinator of the JTF, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, in Yenagoa, 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 Etsako 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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