By JOHNSON EYIANGHO
The Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB), has intercepted a barge with 350,000 litres of illegally refine Automobile Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel in Port Harcourt, and arrested four suspects in connection with the crime.
The Force Public Relations, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday that the task force made the arrest on June 10, 2022 at Slaughter Area of Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt.
He explained that the product was contained in a seagoing 12-compartments barge known as “Rainbow-I” with Registration No. 8765432.
Adejobi said that preliminary investigations as well as analysis carried out on the samples by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority based in Port Harcourt, confirm that the product was adulterated, and therefore unfit for sale to the public.
”All suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” her said.
Meanwhile, the IGP, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, has warned that there would be severe sanctions for criminal elements who engage in activities such as illegal bunkering and illegal refining of oil products, capable of sabotaging the nation’s economy.
He charged members of special teams set up to monitor, investigate, apprehend, and prosecute those engage those crimes to renew their offensive, warning them to shun all manner of corruption so that offenders would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Baba, however, commended them for intercepting the barge and further charged them to be steadfast in discharge of their responsibilities.