JTF arrests 1,653 suspects, destroys 120 barges

Minister of State, Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada

The operatives of the Joint Task Force have arrested a total of 1,653 suspected crude oil thieves in the last one year.
 
The JTF, established to ensure the protection of oil installations and prevention of oil theft, also destroyed 120 barges, 878 Cotonou boats, 161 tankers, fuel dumps and tanks during the period.
 
The Minister of State for Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada, stated these at a ministerial press briefing organised by the Ministry of Information in Abuja on Friday to highlight the activities of the Ministry of Defence.
 
Obada said while it was true that the criminality in the nation’s maritime sector had not been totally eradicated, the operatives of the JTF had ensured a drastic reduction in the ugly incident in the nation’s territorial waters.
 
She stated that the JTF was able to achieve a commendable reduction in crude oil theft through enhanced troop deployment and effective aerial and ground patrols.
 
She said, “Some of the achievements of the task force within the last one year include: Enhanced protection of oil and gas facilities through increased air and ground patrols of pipeline networks to deter vandals from sabotage activities.
 
“Troops were deployed in most critical platforms on a 24/7 basis to enhance their security. While criminalities in the industry have not been completely eliminated, efforts of the JTF have reduced the level of crude oil theft drastically within the period under review.
 
“Conduct of incisive anti-illegal oil bunkering patrols led to the arrest of 1,653 suspects and destruction of 3,778 illegal refineries within the last one year.
 
“Similarly, 120 barges, 878 Cotonou boats, 161 tanker trucks, 178 illegal fuel dumps and 5,238 surface tanks were destroyed by the JTf.”
 
On the ongoing fight against terrorism in the country, the minister stated that security operatives were winning the campaign against terror.
 
She said the Operation BOYANA established after the declaration of emergency rule in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa “has so far been very successful.”
 
She recalled that the insurgents had been dislodged from their strongholds at the Sambisa Forests in Borno State.
 
The minister added the Multination Joint Task Force involving troops from Nigeria, Chad and Niger, had blocked the influx of illegal arms into the country through effective patrols.