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.”
