The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Olukayode Egbetokun says the Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (STFPIB) has arrested 59 suspects and two vessels over oil theft in two months.
Egbetokun said this on Thursday, in Abuja at the opening of a conference with Strategic Police Managers, consisting of officers from the rank of Commissioners of Police and above.
He said six trucks, one Toyota Camry vehicle, 200 sacks of adulterated automotive gas oil (AGO) and 80 drums of adulterated AGO were also recovered by operatives of STFPIB.
The I-G said that other items recovered in January and part of February, were 40 Gee Pee tanks of adulterated AGO and 62,000 litres of adulterated AGO.
According to him, one of the prominent achievements of the task force was the arrest of 23 male suspects and recovery of vessel MT Kali, following intelligence received from a private security contractor.
He said the private security, employed by the NNPC Ltd had informed the task force that the vessel and its occupants were involved in tampering pipeline and stealing crude oil.
“The Task Force promptly responded, successfully arrested the suspects and took them into custody along with the vessel.
“All suspects have been charged to court, and now facing prosecution,” he said.
The I-G said STFPIB was a Unit of the Nigeria Police Force responsible for tackling the menace of illegal bunkering and other crimes associated with the oil sector.
