Photo: Vanguard

Oil vessel impounded by Joint Military Task Force.

The Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in the Niger Delta says it is recording successes in the war against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in the region.

Brig.-General Tukur Buratai, Commander of the 2 Brigade and Sector 2 of the JTF, said this in Port Harcourt Monday at the inauguration of six-block of component commanders' residential quarters for senior officers of the task force.

Buratai said the JTF, through its aggressive intelligence and commitment, had uncovered, arrested and prosecuted many illegal oil bunkering suspects and thieves in the Niger Delta.

"Since our assumption of responsibility of the (JTF) Pulo Shield, we have made tremendous progress in the anti-bunkering, illegal bunkering, anti-piracy operations and sundry crimes, especially pipeline vandalism and oil theft.

"The Brigade (Sector 2) has also moved into other directions in support of the civil police in anti-kidnappings, anti-armed robbery operations and we have made tremendous successes.

"We want to assure the good people of Rivers and Bayelsa that we are up to the task and facing such challenges squarely," he said.

NAN