JTF destroys 135 illegal refineries in Niger Delta

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta said on Sunday in Yenagoa it had shut down 134 illegal crude refineries and seized two barges used by oil thieves.
In a statement by JTF’s Media Co-ordinator, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the task force said the operation was carried out
between Nov. 22 and Nov. 30 in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the operation was
tagged “Operation Pulo Shield’’.
The JTF, which stated that it remained resolute and committed to reducing oil theft in the region, said a suspected oil thief arrested
during the crackdown was being interrogated.
“In Bayelsa, we have uncovered and cracked down on 134 illegal
crude oil distillation camps, 34 Cotonou boats and 36 pumping
machines.
“We have also recovered 12 illegal oil dumps used by oil thieves in
Igbematoru, Oyeregbene, Lasukugbere, Mbikiba and Ewesusho communities in Southern Ijaw, Brass and Nembe local government areas (LGAs) of Bayelsa.
“Some of the camps were being regenerated by the oil thieves
before the crackdown".
A locally-fabricated steel barge containing products suspected to
be illegally-distilled Automated Gas Oil (AGO) was also intercepted
by the patrol team around Nembe 2 flow station,’’ Nwachukwu said.
He said the barge had been towed to Nembe 1 flow station for safe
custody.
The statement also said a wooden barge and two wooden boats
conveying unascertained quantity of adulterated AGO were seized
during patrols in Alakri-Okirika waterways in the Okirika LGA of
Rivers.
It added that the wooden barge had been recovered and secured at
Peterside House Boat, a detachment of the JTF.
The statement said further that JTF operatives shut down an illegal
crude oil distillation camp at Orhobo village in Jesse, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta.
“A suspected oil thief was caught `in the act’ at Odidi II, near Takula
in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta.
“The suspect was apprehended in the act while towing a Cotonou
boat containing illegally sourced crude oil with a motorised fibre
boat.
“The suspect and the items recovered from him have been taken to JTF custody for preliminary investigations.
“The suspect will be handed over to an appropriate agency for
prosecution later,” Nwachukwu said.

What actualy trigered my anger was the fact that 34 cotonou boats were found.... this country sha