A Joint Task Force comprised of army formations from Port Harcourt, Eket, and the Nigerian Navy in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State carried out the destruction of illegally refined petroleum products on Thursday.
Capt. Samuel Akari, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 2nd Brigade of the Nigerian Army, confirmed this information to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom on Friday.
During the operation, the task force discovered a wooden boat and 28 drums suspected to contain illegally refined Automative Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
The operations took place in Esit Urua in Eket LGA and Ukpenekang in Ibeno LGA, as reported by NAN.
“Acting on a tip-off, troops from the 2nd Brigade Nigerian Army, along with troops from the 6th Division Nigerian Army Port Harcourt and personnel from Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee, conducted a joint operation,” said Capt. Samuel Akari.
He added, “The JTF carried out a joint anti-illegal oil bunkering operation at Ukpenekang beach site in Ibeno LGA of Akwa Ibom on May 11.”
Akari mentioned that during the operation, the team discovered a wooden boat and 28 drums suspected to contain illegally refined Automative Gas Oil (AGO).
Additionally, the JTF uncovered multiple drums of illegally refined AGO concealed in a warehouse at the beach site.
However, no arrests were made as the criminals fled into the bush upon sighting the troops in the areas.
“All the illegally refined products were set ablaze. No arrests were made as the criminal elements fled into the bush upon sighting the troops,” Akari stated.
The two sites in the local government areas were subsequently set ablaze.
