Catch up with the news!

By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa — The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, code-named Operation Pulo Shield, has impounded two barges laden with illegally sourced crude oil on the Kasabobo creek in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Also, 11 suspected crude oil thieves were nabbed in Rivers an Delta states in the renewed offensive against illegal bunkering and crude oil theft in the region by the special security forces.

Media Coordinator of the JTF, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, yesterday, in Yenagoa said that the two barges christened, CWTC 16 and TIKORO 2 were intercepted by troops while trying to sail into the international waters through Forupa channels during a week-long intensive anti-oil theft patrol of the creek.

He said “troops of 5 Battalion of the Joint Task Force deployed in the Sector 2 area of responsibility of the JTF in the Niger Delta have impounded two barges laden with illegally sourced crude oil on the Kasabobo Creek during a weeklong intensive anti-oil-theft patrol targeted at sanitising the creeks and water ways of Southern Ijaw Council of Bayelsa State.

“The troops were ordered by the Commander Sector 2 Brigadier General Osasogie Uzamere to embark on the operation following reports of recalcitrance of oil thieves in the area despite regular clamp down by the JTF.

“The Barges christened CWTC 16 and TIKORO 2 with eight compartments each, filled with stolen crude were intercepted by the troops while trying to make its way into the international waters through Forupa channels.”