6th January, 2016
Jethro Ibileke/Niger Delta
Troops of Sector 2 Operation Pulo Shield operating in the Niger Delta region, recorded tremendous successes in their war against illegal oil bunkering in the region in December 2015.
The troops deployed at Bille and Mejdukri creek on 21 December 2015 intercepted and arrested a barge used for illegal oil bunkering by suspected oil thieves.
The barge marked EUCHARIA III, was loaded with products suspected to be locally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) and was anchored near an illegal oil bunkering site before it was arrested.
Items recovered in the bunkering site include: eight pumping machine, one generator set and large quantity of spanners and screwdrivers.
Similarly, the maritime component of the operation, NNS Delta, intercepted and arrested an illegal oil bunkering vessel with registration name as AFRICAN SKY laden with 670 metric tonnes of crude oil suspected to have been stolen.
The vessel which was arrested along Forcados Bar, is currently in the custody of NNS Delta for preliminary investigations.
In another related development, troops of the Operation Pulo Shield, while carrying out anti-illegal bunkering patrols around Aprugbene creek, Lagosgbene, Otowo of Southern Ijaw local government area and Ekeremor, Ikantu creek of Burutu LGA of Bayelsa and Delta States respectively, dismantled illegal distillery camps where oil thieves operate with 32 illegal oil bunkering boats, eight storage pits, six pumping machines, cooking ovens and plastic tanks filled with stolen crude and AGO.
Two suspect, Stephen Thomas and Chukwudi Nwokedi, were arrested for oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
Thomas was arrested at Ekeremor Camp while Nwokedi was arrested in the process of vandalizing NPDC pipeline in Ughelli West Well head.
An unspecified automobile car with registration number Delta PTN 82 AA was also recovered.
Two illegal oil fields from where the suspects operated were destroyed in-situ, along with the camp and other recovered items.
Five suspects were also arrested by the troops who were on anti-piracy and robbery operation at Kalatoro, Akassa and Oruma Communities in Bayelsa State.
Items recovered from two of the suspects, Gabriel Romeo and Goodluck Father, include includedUuuuUKMmm»ui a locally made pistol with 4 cartridges,12 GSM phones, wooden boat containing plastic drums, three metal drums and 10 jerry cans filled with illegally refined AGO.
The items were destroyed in-situ while the suspects and recovered arms are currently in the custody of Operation Pulo Shield Shield for preliminary investigation.