The Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, has revealed the arrest of five suspects and destruction of no fewer than 21 illegal oil bunkering sites in the region.
It also said the outfit foiled a kidnap attempt of a 12-year-old pupil of Ohoro Secondary School, Ugheli, in Delta State.
The Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, JTF, Lt. Col. Ado Isa, said in a statement on Wednesday that the feats covered operations in Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states.
Giving insight into the operations, the JTF spokesman said the anti-illegal oil bunkering squad of the Sector 1 of the operatives deployed in Jones and Ajaosolo creeks in Warri North and South of Delta State discovered and destroyed 10 illegal oil bunkering sites.
He said at the sites, oil thieves operated with four Cotonou (large) boats, seven surface tanks and 34 metal tanks filled with illegally refined diesel.
Other items discovered in the sites, according to Isa, comprised pumping machine, 20 cooking pots and plastic tanks filled with stolen crude oil.
He said though no suspect was found on the sites, the JTF destroyed the sites along with the items found.
The spokesman said two suspected gun runners, Amos Akpeleko and James Eshhawumi, were arrested by operatives of JTF at Adagbarasa Community in Okpe area of Delta State.
He said a follow-up of the operation led to the arrest of one Mr. Johnson Omare at Orokpokpo in Ughelli North where two single barrelled guns and six cartridges were recovered.
He said the suspects and the weapons were currently in the custody of the JTF.
He also said the troops, while on land patrol at Abudu-Agbor Road in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, arrested an illegal oil bunkering tanker loaded with illegally refined diesel.
Isa said the occupants of the tanker were arrested, stressing that the tanker and three suspects were in custody of JTF for preliminary investigation.
The spokesman said JTF troops deployed in Ihoro community in Ughelli North LGA of Delta State foiled an attempt by kidnappers to abduct a 12-year-old boy in Ohoro Secondary School.
He said one suspect was arrested in connection with the crime while the JTF was on the trail to apprehend other suspects who are currently at large.
He added that, “The Sector 2 troops of the JTF, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police, while on patrol along Isiokpo/Elele Expressway, arrested two tankers used for illegal bunkering activities loaded with stolen diesel.
“The tankers were moved to a safe area in Isokpo and destroyed in line with JTF operations in the area. Five illegal oil bunkering sites were also discovered along Awoba flow station, Gbenekruu, Baragbene and Igbomotoro communities in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State where oil thieves operate with Cotonou boats, metal tanks and plastic rubber containing illegally refined diesel. The sites and items discovered were destroyed immediately.”
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