Army intercepts suspected oil thieves in Bauchi

Suspected oil bunkerers have been intercepted and chased away by troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Bauchi, in a bush at Alkaleri local government area of state along the Bauchi – Gombe road and impounded a fuel tanker and other items used to siphon fuel from the busted NNPC pipelines that transport oil to Gombe depot.

The interception of the suspects was disclosed by the Brigade Commander, Brigadier-General Michael Durowaye, while speaking to Journalists on Monday during the  handing over of the intercepted fuel tanker and other items used by the suspected bunkerers to the Commandant of the Bauchi State Command Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),  Halliru Usman Alhassan, at the 33 Artillery Brigade headquarters, Shadawanka Barracks  in Bauchi.

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Michael Durowaiye, who was represented by the Garrison Commander of the Brigade, Colonel Gabriel Okufemi Osho, disclosed that on sighting the Army’s patrol vehicle, the suspected bunkerers fled and abandoned the tanker and the items used for their bunkering activities at the scene of the illegal act.

The Brigade Commander further stated that in line with the synergy among security agencies in the state, they were handing over the tanker and other items used by the suspects in carrying out their illegal activities to the State Command of the NSCDC for further investigation and necessary legal action.

He also said that the items recovered included a fuel tanker, two power generators, one hand pump, one pipe, one drilling machine, one welding machine, 26 welding electrodes rods, one X Vanier calliper and three drilling rods.

The Brigade Commander assured that “We will continue to go after oil bunkerers and ensure that we arrest them to make sure that the whole place is devoid of such criminals,”.

While receiving the tanker and other recovered items, the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Halliru Alhassan commended the Army troops for intercepting the  suspected bunkerers lamenting that their activities are costing  the country billions of Naira in economic growth  and vowed to work closely with other security agencies and members of the public to ensure that suspects are arrested and prosecuted.

The Commandant who was represented by ASC Daniel Garba Taki said that the Command would carry out further investigations in order to ensure that the suspects who are now at large were arrested and brought to book.