Army arrests 5 suspected bunkerers, seize 456,600 litres of AGO

Troops of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army participating in Operation Crocodile Smile II have arrested five suspects allegedly involved in illegal bunkering in Warri, Delta State.

The suspects, Samuel Dino, Eric John, Paul Golo, Felix Sunday and Solomon Doloebiowie, were arrested in Yokri, Warri, Delta State by the troops following a tip-off on suspected oil bunkering activities in the area by the suspects.

The troops also intercepted a thunder boat pushing a barge laden with suspected illegally refined oil products.

A statement signed by the Brigade Public Relations Officer, Muhammed Maidawa, said the intercepted barge had eight out of its 12 apartments filled with about 454,600 litres of the illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO).

He said the suspects would be handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation and prosecution.

The statement further disclosed that troops during routine patrol along Nana Creek also destroyed an illegal oil refining camp at EGWA 1 in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Maidawa said items destroyed in the camp included three large storage facilities, dug out pits containing substances believed to be illegally refined products, cooking ovens and other bunkering materials.