The Rivers State Police Command yesterday paraded three suspects, 42-year old Jonthan Okon, 28-year-old Bernard Kingsley and 26-year old Sunny Onacha, for economic sabotage. The trio were arrested with three 55,000 litres Mack trucks, with two fully loaded with contents identified to be crude oil.
The Rivers CP, Tunde Ogunsakin, said, "Since my assumption in office, I have intimated you of my strong resolve to fight saboteurs of our Nation’s economic growth. You and I know that the Federal Government of Nigeria is leaving no stone unturned in its fight against crude oil theft and vandalization of oil pipelines.
"Our strategies against bunkerers in many parts of the State are beginning to yield positive results and we will constantly re-assess our operational strategies in tune with the sophistication of the oil thieves.
"On Friday, March 28th 2014, at about 1030hrs. Information received by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command that groups of people who specializes on pipe line vandalization are parading within Elelenwo Express Way/Akpajo Eleme Road, Port Harcourt.
"Upon the information above, the Commissioner of Police Monitoring Team was immediately drafted to the scene of the oil bunkering and the perpetrators were caught in the act. They had already filled two specially built 55,000 litres trucks with crude oil and were about loading the third one when the Police team arrived at the scene."
He added, "As expected, the arrested suspects tried to evade arrest with tactics and antics, but our men who were very determined to end oil bunkering, especially in Rivers State, overpowered them and impounded their trucks.
"One of the suspects, Jonathan Okon who hails from Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State claimed to be an auto dealer and also confessed that one of the impounded trucks with registration number XF 869 PHC belong to him.
"Bernard Kingsley hails from Okpala town in Isiala Ngwa Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State. He attended Okpaka Primary School in Okpaka Local Government Area of Imo State and married with two children. Bernard claimed that the Mack truck, with the registration number XA 905 DEG, which he was arrested with, belongs to a certain Bazil and that he was contracted by one Ugwun Amos (still at large) to be his Conductor.
"Sunny Onouha, born in 1988 and hails from Akarulor town in Ugunabor Local Government Area of Abia State. He is a son of Chineye Onacha. He attended Akawugwu Primary School. He was the driver of one of the impounded trucks with registration number KA 541 KET.
"Let me at this juncture reiterate our strong commitment and resolve to the fight against oil bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage in Rivers State. We are very unrelenting in our bid to put an end to this National menace.
"I also want to use this medium to warn and to advise perpetrators of oil theft to desist from their unscrupulous act or be ready to face the full wrath of the law, if they are apprehended."
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