Military arrests 19 for oil theft, destroys 3 barges

Troops of Sector 2 anti-illegal oil bunkering squad of the Operation Pulo Shield patrolling along Alakiri creek and Ikwete waterside of Rivers State arrested 3 illegal oil bunkering Barges filled with Automated Gas Oil(AGO).

The product is suspected to have been siphoned from PPMC pipeline at Imo River. No suspects were arrested during the operation. However the troops during the operation intercepted two tankers loaded with AGO and six Gulf cars conveying illegally refined products. Other items recovered during the operations include a Bus loaded with stolen products and five speed boats. The barges are in custody of Operation Pulo Shield while other equipment were destroyed insitu.

The troops at Makoba waterside arrested 13 suspected oil thieves operating with 24 locally made boats filled with illegally refined AGO. A total number of 6 outboard and 6 pumping machines were also recovered by the troops. Five trucks loaded with stolen products were also impounded. The suspects are in custody of Operation Pulo Shield for preliminary investigation while the equipment were destroyed insitu in line with the Mandate of the Operation in the Region. Illegal oil bunkering sites numbering seven were also destroyed along Ogbenekrukru and channel Cawthorne where oil thieves operates with drums and dug out pit filled with stolen crude. The sites were destroyed insitu.

The Sector 1 of the Operation also intercepted a truck with registration number LAGOS FST 839 XA loaded with 45000 litres of substance suspected to be Ago at Imeke Community Auchi in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State. Three suspects who gave their names as Ehi Joshua, Hassan Ilegieno and Saturday James were arrested. The suspects and the trucks are in custody of Operation Pulo Shield for investigation.

Two suspected armed robbers armed with pump action and live cartridges were also arrested while robbing a victim at Uti Community in Uvwie LGA of Edo State. The suspect and the recovered items were handed over to the Nigerian Police for investigation and prosecution.