JTF cracks down on illegal fuel depot,ASP, others arrested for operating

A military Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield 01 has uncovered an illegal oil depot in Calabar, Cross River State, where no less than 8,000 drums of fuel and diesel were stored.

The Public Relations Officer of the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Capt. Joseph James, who stated this on Wednesday, said six persons, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police, have been arrested in connection with the illegal depot.

Conducting journalists around the depot, James said the place was uncovered on Christmas Eve following a tip off.

He added that the raid was led by Major Abdulmaleek Mohammed, of the brigade.

He said, “Following a tip-off, the Commander of the 13 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Shehu Yusuf, ordered that the JTF should raid the depot, which is off Mesembe Avenue, in the Anantigha area and very close to the headquarters of the Calabar South Local Government Area.

“As you can see, there are nearly 8,000 drums of fuel and diesel well arranged here. You can also see how they have expertly dredged this canal to enable these boats to bring in the products from wherever. It appears that this illegal business has been on for some time now before this intelligence report came in.

“We are still carrying out our investigation to unravel their possible connections and where they got the products from. We have picked up six men among whom is an Assistant Superintendent of Police, who are presently in the custody of the Military Police at the Brigade. We will soon hand them over to the Nigerian Civil Security and Civil Defence Corps.”

Meanwhile, the force has burnt the products at Ikang in Bakassi Local Government Area of the state.

Asked why the products were not handed over to the state government, James said the mandate of the JTF team was to burn such items.