Operatives of the Joint Task Force Effurun have again recovered petroleum products suspected to be diesel worth about N300 million from illegal oil bunkerers in Warri, Delta State.
Acting on a tip off, the combined team of soldiers and policemen stormed Harbour Market in Udu Local Government Area of the state and arrested seven suspects, including a woman, in connection with the act.
About 1500 drums of 200 litres each and four surface tanks, all filled with illegally refined product believed to be diesel, as well as a wooden boat and pumping machines were recovered from the scene.
Security sources told Sunday Tribune that the Commander of the JTF, Brig. Gen. Wuyep Rimtip received information about the activities of the operators of the illegal refineries and dispatched a team to dislodge them last Tuesday.
He said the illegal oil depot had been in operation for some years now until a resident decided to offer information to security agents because of the risk the few people involved were exposing them to.
The Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Lt-Col Rabe Abubakar confirmed the arrest and gave the names of the suspects as Oyinbo Ewenodere aged 37; Ejiagbe Ejduobo aged 27, Endurance Oga aged 34, Esther Arutere aged 36, Friday Okarakpo aged 39, Royal Ejovwo aged 38 and Monday Thompson aged 17 years.