Men of the multi agency security outfit, Joint Task Force (JTF) have arrested 50 persons for alleged involvement in illegal bunkering activities in different creeks of Delta state.
At least, 150 illegal refineries were said to have been destroyed during raids that were carried out by JTF operatives in different parts of the state.
The market value of the seized and destroyed products is estimated at several hundreds of millions of naira.
The 50 suspects, including the heavily bearded Lebanese captain who leaped apparently from an injured right leg, were paraded before newsmen at the Effurun barracks; where the recovered tanker lorries, surface tanks and thousands of drums have taken a substantial space.
Sarham said that the suspects and the recovered items would appropriately be channelled or handed over to the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further necessary legal action.
Sector One Commander of the JTF, Col Jamil Sarham stated last week in Warri at a briefing on the post-amnesty activities of the security agency in the Niger-Delta that three vessels namel :Tim Begele, MT Leila and MT Efemana were seized in connection with the illegal activities.
Appraising post-amnesty challenges confronting the JTF, the commander disclosed that it is contending with the springing up of mushroom refineries at different pars of the state.
Harping on the need for cooperation between the JTF and the people, the commander however declared that the force was not ready to abdicate its responsibilities,
According to him, the mandate of JTF remains ensuring a reduction in the trends of “ethnic, violence, criminal activities of the militant groups in the Niger-Delta restore law and order and ensure a secured and enabling environment for social and economic activities of the citizens and that of oil industries.”
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