JTF Shuts Filling Station

The Joint Military Taskforce, Operation Pulo Shield in Rivers State has sealed a filling station located along Eleme Road  close to Eleme junction allegedly operating an illegal refinery.

JTF Spokesman, Major Michael Etete told The Tide that the owner of the filling station operated an illegal refinery built at a location behind the filling station.

Etete said that the JTF has also destroyed a petrol tanker loaded with diesel and other equipment belonging to the owner of the filling station.

The Army Public Relations Officer, 2 Brigade told The Tide that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the operation of the illegal refinery, adding that the command is stepping up intelligence to arrest the owner of the filling station.

Said he: “Our men arrested some group of notorious oil bunkerers who also deal on the illegal refinery of the product (AGO) at about 5.30pm. I will take you to the location we are now where they carry out the illegal refinery of AGO product”.

“Also, as you know, in line with the mandate of the Presidential Fiat of the Operation Pulo Shield, the tanker is carrying illegally refined product, the tanker and the filling station will be demolished in toto”, he declared.

In another development, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened to direct its members to withdraw their services due to attacks by pipeline vandals.

The threat is in response to the killing of three officials of the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) by gunmen at Arepo village in Ogun State while they were trying to repair a burst petrol pipeline in the community.

The association urged the Police and other security agencies to track-down the killers and prosecute them.

Shedie Okpara