By Festus Ahon, Ughelli
THE Military Joint Task Force, JTF, yesterday, invaded an illegal refinery at Obi-Ayagha community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, destroying over35 refining spots.

The JTF who stormed the area at about 8 am, also destroyed the piping system of the refinery during the operation. About 20 giant size tanks and some wells were discovered at the location.

Second in command to the Commanding Officer of the 222 battalion Capt. Aminu Yusuf, while addressing newsmen shortly after the operation that lasted for about two hours, disclosed that they carried out the operation on the orders of the Commanding Officer of the battalion, Lt. Col Atahiru Rasheed, following information they had that there was an illegal refinery in Obi-Ayagha community. “Our commanding Officer gave us orders to destroy the refinery this morning,” he reiterated.

Saying that they had destroyed over 3000 plastic drums and ware houses for sales of illegally refined petroleum products in Owhawha community in the last two to three weeks, Yusuf said the giant tanks were being used for storage of illegally refined petroleum products and the wells for storage of crude oil.

He restated the preparedness of the JTF to continue to keep vigilance on the area with a view to tracking down illegal refiners of petroleum products and bringing them to book.