Operatives of the Joint Taskforce have arrested three suspected vandals while breaking and stealing installations belonging to an indigenous oil company, Belemaoil Producing Limited within the Idama Oil Field in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The suspects were said to specialise in vandalising wellheads, flow lines, pipelines and other installations to steal crude oil.
A source who pleaded anonymity said the vandals were arrested within the general area of the Oil Mining Lease (OML-55) field by operatives of the 103 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, following credible intelligence.
The source further said, “On sighting the military, the vandals fled into the mangrove, but luck ran out of the three who were arrested.
“Several items including oil-well accessories were recovered from the suspects.”
Meanwhile, an official of the company who does not want his name in print because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, however, commended the military on the arrest, saying it would serve as a deterrent to others.
When contacted, the spokesman of the 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, Major Iweha Ikedichi, said he would find out the Battalion that carried out the operation and get back to our correspondent.
Ikedichi had yet to give feedback as of the time of filing this report on Monday.
