OIL THEFT: IGP Taskforce Nabs Two With 30,000 Litres Of Diesel In Delta Community

By Mattex Omonext , Delta

The Inspector-General of Police,IGP Special Task Force on Pipeline Vandalization have two suspected illegal refinery dealers with thirty thousand litres of refined diesel in Unenurhie Community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The IGP’s team also impounded two buses loaded with locally refined diesel.

In a chat with newsmen, the Operations Officer, Federal Task Force, Abuja, SP Yakubu Salisu said the assignment was carried out on the directives of its General Commander,ACP Jibrin Kafani in line with the Zero tolerance of the Inspector-General of Police,IGP Mohammed Adamu.

He stated that the two major areas where the exercise recorded success were in the arrest made stressing that its Intel’s was implacable across its operational base.

SP Salisu said the sting operation which is the first of its kind in Delta is to send a warning signal to those behind the criminal acts that they are fully aware of their illicit activities e end in the remote locations across the State.

SP Salisu said subsequent operations in any part of the region would record more successes as they have now perfected plans in ensuring more arrests and recivery.

SP Salisu adviced indigenes of the Communities where the illegalities were perpetrated not to harbour those carrying out the illicit oil business in their domain due to the dangers and health hazards it poses to their lives.

SP Yakubu Salisu was flanked by the Commanders in Warri, Isoko, Sapele and Intel’s during the arrests.

One of the suspects, a 39year old Civil Servant working with one of the Local Government Council simply identified as Fejiro denied involvement in the act.

She said she only visited her family compound near the illegal refinery.

Within the compound which is closed to a river bank purportedly owned by an Octogenarian,Pa. Amos Ofejiro, a big well used as a storage facility was dug very close to an uncompleted building where an unspecified large quantities of already refines diesel was stored.

A big tank with access pipes attack he’d to hoses that were clamped on pipelines laid along the right of ways from where crude oil theft was carried out before being refined and emptied into the nearby well from where the finished products are packaged in jerrycans and nylon bags for distribution.

In a chat with newsmen, Pa. Ofejiro said the illegal refinery business in his backyard had been going on for decades stating that his children resorted to the business as a means of surviving the family.

It was learnt that the IGP’s team experienced some difficulties in Ohoro Community at Bomadi Junction in their attempts to arrest and impound stolen crude and locally refined diesels that has turned major sources of livelihood for the indigenes.

Youths numbering over 200 attacked the team who displayed so much professionalism in ensuring that the casualty figure was minimized by retreating from the Community.