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Emmanuel Ovundah, Port Harcourt
The 6 Division, Nigerian Army has impounded a truck conveying over sixteen thousand (16,000) litres of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) also known as diesel.
Briefing Journalists on the seizure of the products at the Army headquarters, Commander, 6 Division Garrison, Brigadier General Eddie Effiong, said the truck was apprehended while conveying the illegally refined diesel (80 drums) worth over 14 million naira along Okporowo road in Ahoada East local government area of Rivers State on Sunday.
The seized illegal product according to current market value we gathered, is worth N14.4m.
The Army Commander who disclosed that illegal oil bunkerers have devised a new means of illegal bunkering activities said the military will continue to work relentlessly in the fight against oil bunkering and other forms of crime and criminality in collaborating with other Sister Agencies in the State.His words;
“We called you today to take a look at another dimension of illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta. Normally illegal bunkering products are conveyed in tankers and just few days back, we saw this container truck which is supposed to carry goods.
“But based on credible informations, an ambush was laid and this truck was held. And on opening it, what we saw inside was eighty drums of illegally refined AGO. So it was apprehended and moved down here.
“This is just to show the extent to which people can go to commit crime. Ordinarily, if this was in a tanker, they would been apprehended easily. But seeing this, you might think they are carrying goods, or frozen items and you just allow them to pass.
“But we just want them to understand that as they are devising new methods, we, equally are going to follow them up and apprehend them.
“Since they have devised new tactics, so now, if truck drivers are stopped on the road for searching, they shouldn’t get angry at our men, because everything now can be used to convey illegally refined products.
“We, on our part we will not relent. Anyway they want to devise new means, we will device our own means also to catch them,” he said.
Effiong, who is also the Commander of Sector 3, Operation Delta Safe Military Joint Taskforce said no arrest was made as occupants of the vehicle ran into the bush and abandoned their truck on sighting the military check point.
“No body was arrested, the suspects, on sighting the military check point they took to their heels and ran into the bush.”
He used the medium to advice the general public especially youths to stop going into crime despite how difficult things might be.
“Yes, this might not be easy, but that should not force anybody to go into crime. If the Federal Government says we should not carry out illegal bunkering activities, then we should abide by it. So, we keep advising people to stay away from crime and look for legal business or skill to do.”
He said the products will be destroyed.
