JTF nabs four oil thieves in Bayelsa

Four persons suspected to be illegal bunkerers were apprehended and paraded before newsmen Wednesday, at the University Town of Amassoma in South Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa by operatives of the Joint Military Taskforce (JTF).
The commanding officer, 102 JTF battalion in the state, Lt. Col. Anthony Legal Odey, said the suspects were nabbed along the creeks of Ekeremor and southern Ijaw axis with 25,000 litres of crude suspected to have been stolen, describing the act as economic sabotage.
Lt. Col Odey said the culprits, Jebina Itula, 35 Mathew Gabis (19) Ebiakpor Felix (24), and Inamokei were caught after they had successfully opened an oil well head belonging to a multi-national oil company and loaded the contents in 100 drums with capacities of 250 litres each. According to him, items recovered from the suspects include, 100 drums of crude oil, eight wooden boats and two Yamaha 75 horse power boat engines at Clove Creek, Beneside in Southern Ijaw and Tunu in Ekeremor local government area of the state respectively. While condemning the act, the commander, sector Two of the JTF, Col Victor Ezeugwu, said the activities of oil bunkerers in the state have impoverished the people, from the huge amount the country was loosing.
He said the identities of the sponsors of the suspected bunkerers would soon be made public after further investigations.
However, the suspects denied committing the offence saying that, they were boat drivers who were hired to ferry the crude oil to a destination.