IGP Taskforce Arrests Octogenarian, Daughter For Oil Bunkering Illicit Trade In Delta

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Special Task Force on Pipeline Vandalization, has arrested an octogenarian, and his 39 years old daughter in connection to illegal oil bunkering in Ukenurhie community in Ughelli North Council area of Delta state.

The suspects were arrested at their family compound in the community where the illicit trade usually takes place.

It was gathered that the big well used as a storage facility was dug very close to an uncompleted building where an unspecified large quantities of already refined diesel was stored.

Another big tank with various access pipes attached to hoses connected to crude oil pipelines were seen laid along the pipeline right of ways from where crude oil theft was carried out.

After the crude had been collected, they refined and emptied it into the nearby well from where the finished products are packaged in jerry cans and nylon bags for distributions

Over 30,000litres of locally refined diesel stored in the local well in the compound were recovered during the sting operation by operatives of the taskforce.

But the 39-year-old woman denied the allegations that she was into illegal refinery business, saying that she only visited her family house where the illegal refinery was done occasionally.

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She identified herself as a civil servant working in a Local Government Council in the state.

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The octogenarian owner of the compound, situated close to a river bank, said the Illegal refinery business in his backyard had been going on for decades.

He, however owed up that his children resorted to the business as a means of surviving the family. 

Confirming the report, the leader of the joint operation, SP Yakubu Salisu, disclosed that the assignment was carried out based on directives of its General Commander, ACP Jubrin Kafani, inline with the zero tolerance of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu.

While scoring the operation as very successful, SP Salisu, stated that the two major areas where the exercise recorded success were in the arrest made and also established the fact that its intels was implacable across its operational base.

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He said they used this sting operation which was the first of its kind in Delta area to also send warning signal to those behind these criminal acts that they are fully aware of their activities even in remote locations across the state.

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SP Salisu, expressed optimism that subsequent operations in any part of the region would record more successes as they have now perfected their modus operandi in ensuring more arrest and recoveries were made.

He however advice indigenes of the communities where these illegalities were being perpetrated not to indulge those carrying out the illicit oil business in their areas.

Salisu, however disclosed that four other Commanders comprising Warri, Isoko, Sapele and Intels, also impounded two buses load of locally made diesel.

Meanwhile, the taskforce had experience some hitches in Ohoro community at Bomadi Junction as youths numbering over 200 reportedly attacked them, a development which forced the team to retreat from the community. 

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