12 August 2015, Yenagoa – The Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, says its operatives have arrested a notorious cult leader, two suspected kidnappers and two oil thieves involved in illegal oil bunkering.
Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, JTF, Lt.-Col. Ado Isa, said in a statement on Tuesday that the special squad of the JTF, with headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, deployed in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, raided a cultists’ hideout at Eziorsu Community.
He said the raid yielded fruit as the operatives arrested “the most wanted and notorious gang leader” who had been terrorising the residents.
He said the arrested suspect gave his name only as Ukwa, adding that the operatives recovered sophisticated weapons and live cartridges from the man.
He said the suspect and the recovered weapons were currently in the custody of the JTF for preliminary investigation before being handed over to a relevant prosecuting agency.
He said the troops, in collaboration with the Department of State Services, also arrested two suspected kidnappers in the state.
Isa said the suspects gave their names as Suleiman Hamza and Rabiu Isiaku.
The JTF spokesman said the suspects were apprehended in connection with the kidnap of one Val, a member of the National Youth Service Corps.
He said the suspects had been handed over to the DSS for further investigation.
Isa added, “The JTF troops of Sector 2 arrested an illegal oil bunkering truck with number plate, DBT 244 XA, near an NNPC-PPMC pipelines with stolen fuel. Two occupants of the truck were arrested and detained in custody of the JTF, while the PPMC conducted test and confirmed the product to be adulterated diesel.
“The truck and its contents were successfully moved to an isolated area along Refinery-Onne Road in Rivers State and destroyed.
“Another truck loaded with black oil with number plate, ANC 80 XA, was intercepted on Refinery Road in Rivers. The driver of the truck is at large, while the laden truck is in custody of the JTF pending the provision of valid documents by the owners authorising them to engage in the oil deals.”
– Punch