16th September, 2012
JETHRO IBILEKE, Benin
Determined to rid the rid the Niger Delta region of all forms of criminality, men of the Joint Task Force, code-named Operation Pulo Shield, an arm of 4 Brigade, Nigeria Army has destroyed no fewer than 50 illegal refineries during a series of raids carried out within Edo, Delta and Ondo States.
The operation which lasted four weeks also led to the arrest of suspectsi n connection with piracy, while others were also apprehended for armed robbery and kidnapping.
A press statement endorsed by the Brigade’s Public Relation Officer, Captain Rose Managbe, said the operations were geared towards enhancing a secured environment in the interest of national security.
Items recovered during the raid include, 100 Cotonou boats, 12 Tankers, 1300 surface Geepee tanks and over 350,000 drums of illegally-refined products, 2 FN riffles, 1 G3 riffle, 1 Sub Machine Gun, 3 AK 47 riffles and I Pump action gun. Others include 575 rounds of 7.62mm specila, 42 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 44 rounds of short gun cartridges, 10 AK 47 Magazines, one magazine, 2 FN magazines, 3 walkie talkies, one metal detector and one battle axe.
Suspects arrested in connection with illegal bunkering are one Mr Emma Odiaka, Anukwu Okonkokwo, Joseph Okojie, Innocent Akan, Silas Ogbamebor, Anaco Nwaya, Raphael Esizobor and Ikponmwosa Ekhadolor. They were arrested at different locations along Agbor-Abraka road with two tankers with registration numbers Lagos: XN 937 GGE and Enugu: YC 823 UWN respectively; and 26 drums of substance suspected to be illegal refined AGO.
“One of the suspects, Mr Silas Ogbeamebor tried to bribe troops with the sum of N240, 000. 00. On 30 August 2012 , Anaco Nwaya, Rahpeal Esezobor and Ikponmwonsa Ekhadolor were arrested during a stop and search operation along Agbor-Abraka Road carrying 26 drums of substance suspected to be illegal refined AGO,” the statement added.Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier-Gen. Obi Abel Umanhi called for information from members of the public to help the Task Force rid the society of all forms of criminality.