Troops arrest eight for alleged illegal bunkering, vandalism

By Adeyanju Esther

Troops from the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have apprehended eight suspects involved in illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and other criminal activities in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states.

Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, shared this information in a statement.

He said the suspects were intercepted along the Nun River in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, where they had two fiber boats loaded with sacks of stolen products totaling over one thousand (1,000) litres.

“At Clough Creek in Ekeremor Local Government Area, troops apprehended one suspect who was found with vandalised NAOC armoured cables, a saw, an iron bar, and a shovel in a locally made wooden boat.”

“Additionally, at Apuama in Southern Ijaw, troops dismantled an illegal refining site and seized over 3,000 stolen products.

“This achievement was also noted at Okegbene creeks, where two illegal refining sites, along with drums and a wooden boat, were destroyed.

“The operations resulted in the seizure of over 10,000 litres of stolen products. A similar action took place at Obotoro Creek, where a wooden boat was intercepted containing over 1,500 litres of stolen crude,” he disclosed.

Danjuma also stated that the troops intercepted six drums of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) estimated at one thousand five hundred litres (1,500) at Ibaka waterside in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

He stated, “The products were being prepared for smuggling to a neighbouring country via the waterways.”

“All individuals arrested have been transferred to the prosecuting agency, while the confiscated products are being managed in accordance with existing regulations in the region.”