Troops destroys militants, kidnapers camp

• discovers illegal refineries

By OKOSUN DENNIS

The fight against militancy in the Niger Delta yielded dividend as the military under the auspices of Operation Delta Safe, Sector 1, on a tip off discovered some illegal bunkering equipment along Chanomi  North bank pipeline, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State.

It was learnt that several items were recovered from them which they have carefully deployed in siphoning petroleum products from the pipelines.

Such items include one welding machine, two inserted valves, two shovels, two filing machines, two packets of electrolyte, one hose, bolts, nuts of various sizes and a pumping machine.

At Rumuekpe, the troops discovered militants and kidnappers camp. In addition, two suspects, Messrs Julius Egorume and Ese Ohoro wre arrested and handed over to Ughelli Area Command in connection with act of vandalism at Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Well Head 12 located between Otu  Jeremi and Ukpiovwin communities in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

National Daily gathered that a patrol team at Ugbemu Village along Oghara – Benin Road in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State intercepted a tipper with registration number Akwa Ibom XA 240 KTD carrying 200 litres locally constructed tanks filled with product suspected to be illegally refined diesel.

At Adeje community along Sapele  Warri Road in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, they intercepted a Volkswagen car with registration number Anambra AH 615 ATN carrying 27 Containers of 25 litre Jerrycans filled with product suspected to be illegally refilled Dual Purpose Kerosine.

Another patrol team intercepted a suspected 15,000 litre tanker truck with registration number Lagos XU 140 BDG loaded with product suspected to be illegally refined diesel.  Three suspects were arrested in connection with the truck.

However, a joint patrol with the police in Ehnehre  Kolokolo Community, an area used by suspected hoodlums who normally terrorize the Community and carry out a Cordon and Search Operations, led to 36 hoodlums been arrested and handed over to the Police for further screening.

At Uti in Uvwie Local Government Area, the troops intercepted a gang of armed robbers in an ash coloured Toyota Camry car.  The suspects were alleged to have escaped arrest and were chased by a Police patrol team and on sighting the troops, the suspects jumped out of the vehicle and fled.

One of the robbers was shot dead while tems abandoned by them included one cut to size gun, two locally made pistols, nine live cartridges and the vehicle were recovered and handed over to the Police.