Ten oil thieves have been arrested and three vessels carrying stolen crude oil were impounded by men of the Joint Military Task Force, in an operation codenamed PULO SHIELD, along the Brass waterways in Bayelsa State.
The three vessels, MV Cergen-D, MT Elimina, and
MV Skye, operated by the thieves, were caught
carting away crude oil from vandalized pipelines.
The JTF, in a statement signed by the
Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre,
Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, confirmed that in view
of the mandate of curbing illegal oil bunkering,
pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and other
sundry crimes in the Niger Delta, 10 suspected
crude oil thieves have been arrested.
According to the statement, "The arrest was
made on 14 November at about 0400 hours at
Brass water bar near Nigerian Agip Oil Company
Terminal Brass, in Brass Local Government Area
of Bayelsa State."
"The arrest was effected following a tip that a
vessel christened MV Skye, laden with
substances suspected to be stolen crude oil
which was illegally siphoned from MV Cergen-D
and MT Elimina, earlier arrested for illegal oil
bunkering."
"However, the crack JTF operation PULO SHIELD
monitoring team intercepted MV SKYE and 10
suspected oil thieves that perpetrated the
dastardly act. The vessels MV SKYE and the 10
suspected thieves are currently in the custody of
the JTF for preliminary investigation.
There after
the suspect and vessel used for the illegal act
will be handed over to the appropriate agency."
The commander further reiterated that the zero
tolerance policy for oil bunkering, pipeline
vandalism, and other sundry crimes in the Niger
Delta will be strictly adhered to.
Furthermore, the
Commander said that all oil thieves would be
prosecuted accordingly."
Sahara R.
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