JTF destroys Illegal refineries

Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta says it
has destroyed two illegal oil refineries in
Bayelsa State.
Spokesman for JTF, Lt. Col. Onyema
Nwachukwu, said troops of 5 Battalion of
the outfit deployed in Sector 2 area in the
Niger Delta impounded two barges laden
with illegally sourced crude oil along the
Kasabobo creek.

Nwachukwu said the feat was achieved
after a weeklong intensive anti-oil theft
patrol targeted at sanitising the creeks and
waterways of Southern Ijaw Local
Government Area of Bayelsa.

This came even as the Bayelsa State
Government said the Governor Seriake
Dickson administration would rid the state
of kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and
other crimes.

Special Adviser to the Governor on
Security, Lt.Col. Bernard Kenebai (retd.),
spoke on behalf of the government in an
interview on Tuesday.

"In Bayelsa, the criminals will have to make
a personal decision not to be involved in
kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and other
crimes. Our mandate and commitment is to
ensure that we rid Bayelsa of criminals.

"We earnestly must empower security
agencies and position them to be able to
carry out their statutory responsibilities in
such a way that meets the expectations of
the citizens."

Speaking on the impounded oil barges, the
JTF spokesman said the Commander, Sector
2, Brig.-Gen. Osasogie Uzamere, ordered
the operation following reports that crude
oil theft had continued despite JTF's
continuous clampdown on the activities of
criminals.

Nwachukwu said, "The troops were
ordered by the Commander, Sector 2 Brig.-
Gen. Osasogie Uzamere, to embark on the
operation following reports of
recalcitrance of oil thieves in the area
despite regular clampdown by the JTF.

"The barges, christened CWTC 16 and
TIKORO 2 with eight compartments each,
filled with stolen crude were intercepted
by the troops while trying to make its way
into the international waters through
Forupa channels."

"The troops also carried out raids on illegal
crude oil distillers along Ogbenibiri, Kugbie
and Forupa in Southern Ijaw LG where they
dismantled
eight illegal crude oil distillation
sites.
"The troops also scuttled 7 steel reservoirs
deceptively buried in the ground and
concealed with canopies to prevent
detection by troops."
In a separate operation, Nwachukwu said
the anti-oil theft patrol team of 146
Battalion carrying out surveillance along
PPMC right-of-way arrested 4 suspects at
an active illegal crude oil distillation site at
George Kiri near Bonny Island.
He said 21 drums containing illegally
distilled Automated Gas Oil loaded in four
75HP OBM speed boat were recovered
from the suspects.
He said, "A cordon and search conducted
around the illegal refinery site led to the
discovery of a metal pipe connection
welded on PPMC pipeline which would
require the assistance of a technician to be
disconnected. The suspects recovered
items have been taken into custody
pending further investigation.

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