Police Arrest 18 Suspects For Illegal Oil Bunkering, Pollution

Barely 42hours after the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike mandated security agencies to clamp down on illegal oil bunkering sites and their operators responsible for the cause of perennial soot challenges in the state, the State Police Command said its operatives have arrested 18 persons allegedly involved in illegal oil refining activities in different parts of the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Friday Eboka, stated this while parading the suspects before newsmen at the Police Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt, last Monday.
Eboka said the arrests followed the directive by the governor in his New Year address that all security agencies should put heads together and collaborate with the traditional rulers across the state to ensure that illegal oil bunkering was brought to an end.
“Besides the economic sabotage aspect of it, it is obvious that the soot is having health effects on the people of Rivers State”, he said.
Eboka said officers of the command also impounded two tankers and two large trucks used for illegal storage and transportation of crude oil.
The police boss explained that five suspects from one particular family in Mgbu-Atafa village of Emohua Local Government Area were among the arrested suspects.
Eboka further disclosed that the suspects were arrested for providing land for use in illegal oil refining and bunkering activities.
The commissioner, however, warned all individuals, families and communities in Rivers State to desist from cooperating with persons engaged in such illegal activities, saying, “anyone or group of persons found to be complicit in such activities will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.”
The police commissioner identified the suspects as Aliyi Abdulahi, Abdulrahim Usman, Iskaku Adamu, Basiru Abubakar, Abubakar Usman, and Mohammed Mohammed.
Others include, Yahaya Japhat, Salisu Usman, M. Abubarka and Buhari Buha, Isaac Onuzoru, Alfred Okagbue, Kennedy Ezenwo, Christopher Agala, and Onozuru, among others.

By: Amadi Akujobi