The Joint Military Force in the Niger Delta known as Operation Delta Safe (ODS) on Friday said that it has arrested two suspected oil thieves and also impounded a vessel involved in illegal bunkering activities in Bayelsa waterways.

The joint force said it impounded 300 metric tons capacity vessel currently anchored at Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Formosso, Brass in Bayelsa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Navy Capt. Mayowa Olukoya, Commander, FOB handed the two suspects over to Operation Delta Safe.

Speaking at the brief handover, Olukoya said that the two suspects were caught while loading the barge with suspected illegally refined diesel.

“On July 25, my men of Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Sorro and FOB were alerted of suspected illegal bunkering activities at Oluasiri near Nembe.

“On arrival, a barge was being loaded with substance suspected to be illegally refined AGO; two suspects were apprehended, while two escaped even as we are intensifying efforts to arrest them.

“We actually caught them in the act. The volume of the AGO so far loaded into the 300 metric tons capacity barge is yet to be ascertained,’’ Olukoya said.

He said that three local boats used by the suspected oil thieves were set ablaze at the crime scene.

Azeez