The Niger Delta Joint Task Force (JTF) named “Operation Pulo Shield,” said to have destroyed 56 illegal refineries and arrested six suspect of oil theft.

CEOAFRICA gathered according to the statement by JTF media coordinator, Lieutnant-Colonel, Onyema Nwachulwu that the suspects were arrested at a recent anti-oil theft operation near Escravos in Delta State.

Nwachukwu disclosed that a locally-made boat containing 11 large plastic reservoirs and a speed boat were recovered from the suspects while seven suspects operating illegal oil distillation sites were also arrested by the JTF in another operation, where 16 illegal oil distillation camps were destroyed.

According to him, operatives of the Operation Pulo Shield also arrested seven suspects for alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering in Bayelsa while in Delta State seven illegal distillation sites in Moboko, Irhado, Agbekudo and Obodo camp were destroyed.

He added that the gun boat company of JTF deployed in Gbaram, Azagbene and Izetu in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw local government areas of Bayelsa State also uncovered and dismantled 40 illegal oil refineries.

He concluded however that the gang, made up of Nigerians and one citizen of Republic of Benin, were being interrogated at the JTF Headquarters in Yenagoa.