At least 10 open wooden boats laden with
198,000 litres of suspected stolen Automated
Gas Oil (AGO) have been impounded by the
Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield.
JTF operatives also destroyed 27 illegal
refineries in two separate operations within
the Niger Delta region.
The boats were said to have been intercepted
by the troops of 3 and 19 battalions of the
JTF.
Three of the impounded boats were
reportedly laden with 15,000 litres each. Six
of the boats contained 20,000 litres each
while one of the boats was loaded with about
33, 000 litres.
The Media Coordinator, JTF, Lt. Col. Onyema
Nwachukwu, described the products as
adulterated AGO.
Nwachukwu said the boats were uncovered
at an area where oil thieves set up 16 illegal
refineries.
He said the illicit refineries were later
destroyed by the troops.
He said: “The oil thieves operated with 50 oil
cooking tanks, 37 steel reservoir, 27 large
plastic tanks, 40 metal drums and 5 dug out
pits in Ugbokodo, Ajudigho, Saghara,
Obegugu and Oghara all in Warri South and
Ethiope West local government areas of Delta
State.
He said 11 suspected oil thieves were
arrested by the troops from July 26 to August
6.
According to him, five of the suspects were
apprehended while attempting to steal crude
oil from a pipeline belonging to the Product and Pipeline Marketing Company (PPMC).
He said troops of 146 Battalion of Sector 2 arrested the suspects at the pipeline located along Otokolomabie creek in Rivers State.
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