SAN FRANCISCO, August 20, (THEWILL) – The Joint Task Force (JTF), code named Operation Pulo Shield, has uncovered a depot where tankers siphon crude oil allegedly from pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), along Imo Uzoakpo in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
The discovery was made by the intelligence unit of the anti-illegal oil bunkering squad of the Task Force which recently renewed its war against illegal bunkering activities in the Niger Delta region.
THEWILL learnt that two truck laden with 45, 000 litres of Automated Gas Oil (AGO) were destroyed at the site which was cordoned off by the Task Force.
Sources said the illegal bunkerers were plying their trade when the JTF squad stormed the area but they hurriedly fled the scene on sighting the troops, leaving behind two Mack branded trucks with registration numbers XA 458 ABK and NSK 355 YF.
THEWILL learnt that the illegal bunkerers who allegedly siphoned crude directly from the pipelines have been on the illicit trade at the site since the beginning of the year.
Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of the Task Force, Lt-Col Mustapha Anka, who confirmed the development in a statement, described it as a worrisome development which every well-meaning Nigerian must condemn.
According to him, the destruction of the trucks apprehended at the illegal bunkering depot was in tandem with the mandate of the Task Force, particularly, in line with the zero tolerance campaign of the Commander of the Task Force, Major General Emmanuel Atewe.
“The two trucks together with the illegal oil bunkering equipment were moved to a safer place and destroyed in line with JTF’s mandate and the Commander JTF Major General Emmanuel Atewe’s zero tolerance campaign on oil theft and illegal oil bunkering”, the statement said.
According to him, from a reliable source, the Task Force gathered; “The tankers come here (illegal depot), every night to load their trucks with products without hindrance.”
The statement said the clampdown on the depot and subsequent destruction of the trucks would serve as a deterrent to others.
While commending members of the Special Squad of the JTF for carrying out the operation, the spokesman of the Task Force however urged the general public to provide useful information on the activities of illegal oil bunkerers to security agencies.
Anka said the operation was witnessed by the Manager of the Aba depot of the Petroleum Pipeline Marketing Company (PPMC), Chairman of Ukwa West Local Government Area, Mr Loveday Chigbu as well as Abia State Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Andy Datter.
