JTF Shut Down 17 Illegal Oil Refinery Sites, Scuttle 47 Cotonou Boats

The Joint Task Force OPERATION PULO SHIELD in Edo and Delta states have

uncovered and scuttled 5 illegal oil distillation sites and 40 cotonou

boats used by oil thieves.
JTF in a statement signed by its Media Corodinator, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu

said the oil thieves were caught operating with 300 metal tanks, 64

plastic storage tanks, 72 drums, 68 cooking ovens, 4 pumping machines and

1 Lister Generator at Takular, Otegele 1, Okpogbene and Ovulaiye general

area of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state.

According to him, the troops also intercepted a locally made tug boat

conveying 30 drums of stolen petroleum at Ajide along Benin River in Edo

state. The cotonou boats and other apparatus were destroyed in situ in

line with JTF mandate, while the 6 suspects nabbed during the operation

have been moved to the Tactical Headquarters of the Battalions for

preliminary investigation.
In another anti illegal oil bunkering operation, Operatives of 29

Battalion and Gun Boat Detachment patrolling the water ways and creeks

along Soku–Ofumakiri, Bolo, Oloma and Isaka of Rivers state in the Sector

2 area of responsibility of the Joint Task Force have clamped down on 4

active illegal refineries operating with 40 cooking ovens, 30 plastic

storage tanks, 50 drums, 1 welding machine, 2 pumping machines and a 45

KVA generator.
The troops also intercepted a Cotonou boat containing 86 drums laden with

illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO). The illegal refineries and the

apparatus discovered were scuttled in situ, while the two suspects

arrested in the sting operation are currently assisting investigators at

the Sector 2 Headquarters.
Meanwhile, troops of 343 Regiment patrolling the water ways of Bayelsa

state have shutdown 8 illegal crude oil distillation sites and scuttled 6

cotonou boats operated by oil thieves in Tebidaba and Igbematoru

communities of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state. The

operatives also scuttled 69 metal drums and 2 pumping machines used by the

oil thieves to operate the illegal refineries.
During the entire operation which lasted from 21 to 28 February 2014,

eight suspects were arrested for oil theft related offences. They are

currently undergoing preliminary investigations and will subsequently be

handed over to relevant prosecuting agencies.