The Joint Miltary Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, has arrested two trucks for siphoning Automated Gas Oil (diesel) from a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
It was learnt that each of the truck had the capacity to carry 45,000 litres of oil.
Media Coordinator, JTF, Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, said the trucks were caught in the act at the NNPC pipeline along Imo Uzoakpo in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
He said the trucks with number plates XA 458 ABK and NSK 355 YF were abandoned by the suspected oil thieves who fled on seeing the troops of the task force.
Anka said investigations by JTF revealed that illegal bunkering activities had been going on at the site since the beginning of 2014.
He quoted a resident of the area as telling the troops that “tankers come here every night to load their trucks with products without being challenged.”
He said the resident, whose name was not mentioned, commended the JTF for the operation, saying it would deter others from engaging in the criminality.
Anka said the two trucks with other illegal bunkering equipment recovered by the troops were moved to a safer location and burnt.
Anka said, “This is in line with JTF’s mandate and the Commander JTF, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe’s zero tolerance campaign against oil theft and illegal oil bunkering.
Present at the destruction site is the Petroleum Pipeline Marketing Company Manager Aba Depot, Chairman Ukwa West Local Government Area, Loveday Chigbu and Abia State Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Andy Datter.
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