JTF destroys 50 illegal refineries in Delta, Edo, Ondo

By GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN—NO fewer than 50 local refineries have been destroyed by men of Joint Task Force, Operation  Pulo Shield, Army 4 Brigade, in several raids carried out by the command in Edo, Delta and Ondo States.

Also, 11 suspects were arrested in connection with sea piracy, while others were apprehended for alleged armed robbery and kidnapping in the last four weeks.

The command, in a statement in Benin, Edo State, yesterday, by the Brigade Public Relations Officer, Captain Rosalyn Managbe, said the operations were geared towards enhancing a secured environment in the interest of national security
Among items recovered from them were 100 Cotonou boats, 12 Tankers, 1,300 surface Geepee tanks and 350,000 drums of alleged illegally refined products, two FN riffles, one G3 riffle, one sub-machine gun, three AK 47 riffles and one pump action. Others included 575 rounds of 7.62mm special, 42 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 44 rounds of shot gun cartridge, 10 AK 47 magazines, one magazine, two FN magazines, three walkie talkies, one metal detector and one battle axe.

The JTF  Commander, Brigadier-Gen. Obi Umanhi, who appealed to the public for more  information that will help to stamp out criminality, reiterated the command’s resolve to rid the region of criminals.