by Tony Tamuno

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta has announced that it has started cooperating with the Southern Ijaw Local Government Council of Bayelsa to curb oil theft in the area.

Speaking in Yenagoa, the JTF’s spokesman, Lt-Col Mustapha Anka said that the cooperation between the JTF and the Southern Ijaw council’s oil and gas task force had led to the destruction of thirteen illegal refineries, and the arrest of two suspected oil thieves.

“The special combined squad has discovered and destroyed 13 active illegal oil distillery camps, where oil thieves operate with illegal storage dumps, Cotonou boats and pumping machines, filled with stolen crude and diesel.

“Similarly, troops of the JTF in Edo , while on patrol dismantled six illegal oil refining camps at Okpogbene and Satama general area in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta.

“The camp where illegal oil bunkerers operate with four Cotonou boats, 16 cooking oven and 35 drums filled with substances, suspected to be stolen oil with sundry tools were destroyed by the troops.

“Two suspects were arrested during the operation, other items recovered include 23 surface tanks filled with stolen crude.

“The items were moved to a safe area and destroyed, while the suspects were taken into custody for preliminary investigations before handing them over to prosecuting agencies,” Lt-Col Anka said.