Army Arrests Three Oil Thieves In PH

The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt has arrested three suspects for alleged illegal oil bunkering activities and oil business in the State. The Army also impounded their equipment and 45,000 litre-capacity tanker filled with crude oil at Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the State at the early hours of Saturday, 5th of August, 2023 used for the illegal oil bunkering activities.
The Commander, 6 Division Garrison, Sector 3 Operation Delta Safe in the Division, Brigadier General Eddie Effiong disclosed this known while briefing newsmen at the scene of the crime in the community.
The incident reportedly occurred at early hours of Saturday.
The Army boss said that they got the information that some people were into illegal bunkering activities and we sent out troops to the scene and the troops arrested the 45,000 litres capacity tanker.
“It is a 50-metre SPDC right of way of oil facilities. they bore a hole and started drilling the oil. The three suspects have been arrested with the products and equipment they used in the illegal activities.” he stated
Effiong further said those living and doing business around the area were all culpable of the alleged illegal bunkering activities and added that operators of the pipeline had been notified and they had clamped and cordoned off the area.
He assured that investigation would be carried out after which the truck and the product will be destroyed.
“The operators of the pipeline have been notified, in fact, they have even clamped the line already if not, you will be seeing crude flowing from there now. They have clamped and covered it that is why you could not see where they actually fixed the lines they used. The next action is, since we have got the suspects, the law is going to take its course. Investigation is going to be carried out in order to know because this people here may just be the work men, so we going to find out, to get to the root of this”
He used the opportunity to advised people to stop going into crime and look for something legal to do even as he said that the military will not stop in ensuring that perpetrators of such act are arrested and be made to face the law.

By: Amadi Akujobi