21 April 2014, Ughelli – In its bid to stamp out illegal bunkering from the Niger Delta region, the Joint Military Task Force, JTF, has set a Mitsubishi Gallant saloon car, loaded with substance suspected to be locally refined petroleum product ablaze and apprehended two persons for allegedly indulging in illegal oil bunkering.
Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion, Lt. Col. Ken Chigbu, who briefed newsmen, said the car marked Imo AG 337 NWA, was intercepted by his men on Agbarha Otor-Orogon Road while on routine patrol of the area, last week, adding that the car was loaded with 36 polythene bags containing locally refined petroleum product.
Speaking before the car was set on fire, he said: “It is estimated that the 36 wraps, if converted, will fill two 200 litres drums. The JTF mandate is to ensure that these areas are free of the activities of illegal bunkerers. We intend to have the vehicle and the products burnt and the suspects handed over to the police for prosecution.”
He said that the suspects were apprehended while transporting the product, adding that “preliminary investigation is ongoing to ascertain the main source of the product, but from what we gathered from them, they got it from one lady and they were transporting it to a selling point where they will meet the end users.”
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/04/jtf-sets-car-laden-petroleum-product-ablaze-delta/#sthash.lGNSGuCU.dpuf
– Festus Ahon, Vanguard
