The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) operatives in Delta and Bayelsa states, otherwise known as (“Pulo Shield”) said it has arrested 21 suspects for oil theft and destroyed 31 illegal oil refineries in multiple raids in the month of July, 2015.

According to a press release issued by the media coordinator of the security operatives, Lt. Col Isa Ado yesterday, the JTF troops who were deployed at Iguododo community and Chanomi Escraros, Orhionmwon in Edo and Warri South West local government area of Delta state, discovered and destroyed 15 illegal refining camps, adding that the suspects operated with four Cotonou boats, seven plastic reservoirs, 34 drums, 21 surface tanks filled with illegally refined automated gas oil.

The statement said other items discovered included 21 cooking ovens and eight pumping machines.

“The squad also arrested 16 suspects for other criminal offences ranging from kidnapping and robbery, sea piracy, cultism and pipeline vandalism”, Lt. Col Ado Said.

Items recovered from the suspects included locally made guns with live rounds of ammunition and axe.

It would be recalled that JTF operatives in conjunction with Southern Ijaw Oil and Gas Taskforce had destroyed 16 illegal bunkering sites along Obi creek, Gbenekrukru, Oloma and Ogbonga waterways of Bayelsa and Rivers states respectively.