Men of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) yesterday
recorded success in their mandate to put operators of illegal refineries out of
business. They uncovered a filling station, Nenco Oil, alleg-edly used by
suspected oil thieves as a cover for illegal business. The JTF officials also
arrested the two suspected oil thieves - Edwin Nnana and Bernard Eze. The
suspects were said to be using the filling station to refine crude oil.
The back
of the filling station accessed by two gates on the left and right extremes, is
a large expanse of land littered with crude storage tanks, underground tanks, dugs,
liquid pumps, pipes and other paraphernalia used to refine crude. Investigation
by National Mirror indicated that the filling station is always without fuel to
sell to motorists, but tankers were always seen loading petroleum products
there. The owner of the filling station and some others, who escaped through a
back gate behind the station, is still at large.
The JTF
men stormed the premises after a tip-off by members of the public. Aside the
two suspects arrested, two tankers used to transport fuel were seized.
One of the
tankers was empty, while the other was loaded with 33, 000 litres of illegally
refined AGO (diesel). The JTF also recovered a fire fighting truck loaded with
diesel, and several vehicles suspected to be used in transporting stolen crude
to the illegal refinery.
The Army
Public Relations Officer (APRO), 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Maj. Michael Etete, said that
oil thieves were ruining the nation’s economy and that the JTF would not relent
in its efforts to ensure that they were put out of business.
Etete
said: “Any tanker carrying illegally refined products will not escape the
scrutiny of the JTF.” The arrested suspects, however, told journalists that
they were not aware that their employer’s business was against the law.
SOURCE:National Mirror
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