08 July 2013, Port Harcourt – The Joint Task Force, JTF, has stepped up its crusade against illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region.
Commander of the task force, Major General Beita Debiro, while on patrol of waterways in Rivers State said that the JTF was set to eliminate illegal oil bunkering activities in the region, adding that those into same should quit or be ready to face the law..
He said: “Illegal vandals and pirates should stop the practice or else the JTF will continue to make life unbearable for them for making life unbearable for the people of the country. The government and all Nigerians are against these crimes and all Nigerians should come together to fight the scourge called illegal oil bunkering and piracy.”
Continuing, he said that his men arrested 17 vessels and boats used by illegaloil bunkerers in Bonny, Andoni and Gokana areas of the state between April and July, adding that nine other vessels used for the illicit trade were also destroyed in the Cawthorne channel area on the waterways.
– Jimitota Onoyume, Vanguard