More than 5, 000 drums, containing 225 litres of petroleum products each, were yesterday destroyed at Ikang, Bakassi local government area of Cross Rivers State, by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Calabar, the state capital.
The products were seized from illegal bunkerers of petroleum products between Tuesday and Wednesday this week during an operation by the JTF in the Bakassi waterways and on land. The products were valued at over N100 million.
Public relations officer of the JTF, Captain Joe James, said over 2, 000 drums were intercepted in the waterways while the remaining 3, 000 were seized on land. He said the task force was out to nip the nefarious activities of the bunkerers in the bud, adding that the task force would not relent in its bid to rid the state of illegal oil bunkering.
Captain James, who is also the spokesman of the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar, said the Operation Pulo Shield operated in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, and had the mandate to provide and strengthen security, as well as curb illegal bunkering within the two states.
The army PRO had said that a filling station in Bakassi, known as ACODOF Oil Nigeria Ltd was being used as a depot for storing the illegally acquired petroleum products. He restated the resolve of the JTF to fight illegal bunkering to a standstill, as according to him, such could jeopardise the nation’s economy. Two of the bunkerers were said to have been arrested and handed over to the police.