Joint Taskforce destroys 31 illegal refinaries,arrest 18 oil thieves

           

The Media Coordinator of the Joint Task Force on Niger Delta, Lt Col Isa Ado said yesterday in Yenogao,Bayelsa, in a statement that Operation Polo Shield,Joint Task Force on Niger Delta arrested 18 oil thieves and destroyed 31 illegal refineries in different raid last month.

The Statement discloses that the suspects operated with four Cotonou Boats, seven plas­tic reservoirs, 34 drums and 21 surface tanks filled with illegally refined automated gas oil.it added that 21 oven and 8 pumping machine were destroyed in the operations.it specified that JTF troops deployed at  Iguododo community and Chanomi Escravos in Orhionmwon and Warri South West local government areas of Edo and Delta states respec­tively destroyed 15 illegal oil-refining camps.

"The squad also arrested 16 suspects for other crimi­nal offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, sea piracy, cultism and pipeline vandalism.“Items recovered from them include locally made gun with live rounds of ammunition and axe. The suspects are in custody of the JTF for preliminary in­vestigation before handing them over to prosecuting agency,” it state.