IGP Squad Arrests Eight Suspected Oil Thieves In Delta

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Special Task Force on Pipeline Vandalization has arrested eight (8) suspected oil thieves in Delta State.

According to the taskforce, the suspects are cartel members specialised in locally refined AGO, otherwise known as diesel along coastal settlements in Warri South Council araas of the state. 

The cartel whose network was said to have spread across the entire creeks in Delta waterways have been the brain behind the conversion of stolen crude oil to locally refined products sold to some major marketers who in turn dispense to the public at the official rates.

Commander IGP Special Task Force on Pipeline Vandalization attached to PPMC, Warri Depot, SP Mohammed El-Yakubu, who paraded the suspects at the weekend, said the series of arrests was inline with the Inspector General of Police zero tolerance on Pipeline vandalism. 

He however commended his immediate boss, CSP Abiba Adamu, Commander IGP Federal Task Force, Force Headquarters, Abuja, for the role she played in providing Intels that assist the sector to record the breakthrough in the various arrest recorded within its coverage areas in the state.

“Based on the intelligence gathering from our Abuja office, the sector launched an operations to scene of crime at Benneth Island in Warri South last Friday at about 10pm, where the suspects and their equipment were intercepted.

“Arrested alongside the suspects, were two (2) speed boats, one wooden boat, generating sets, hose and drums laden with over 7,000 liters of locally refined AGO set to be loaded into the wooden boats for delivery”.

“While all the arrested suspects will be charged to court after investigations had been concluded, the impounded product would be handed over to PPMC for evacuation after it has been authorized by DPR for discounting”, he said.

El-Yakubu, warned those behind the illicit oil deals in the state,particularly within his coverage area to desist from such criminal activities as it would no longer be business as usual.

He reiterated the commitment of his Commander in Abuja, CSP Abiba Adamu, who is working hand in hand with the current Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, to reduce the menace of illegal oil bunkering across the country.