No fewer than 12 suspected oil thieves have been arrested by the Nigerian Army for allegedly breaking and siphoning crude oil from a pipeline in Rivers.

The suspects were arrested alongside unspecified crude oil stored in paraffin bags, motorcycles, wheelbarrows and jerrycans.

Brig.-Gen. Eddy Effiong, the Commander 6 Division Garrison, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, briefed journalists on the arrest of the suspects on Tuesday.

He said the suspects were arrested on July 2 and July 3 by troops on routine patrol of the state’s coastal and land communities.

“The 12 suspects were arrested by our troops while they were siphoning crude oil from the Rumuekpe/Okporowo pipeline near the Okoba community in the Ahoada East area of Rivers.

“Items recovered from the suspects were an unspecified quantity of crude oil stored in paraffin bags, motorcycles, wheelbarrows and jerrycans,” he said.

Mr Effiong, also the Commander of Sector 3, Operation Delta Safe, said the army under the command of the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja had zero tolerance for oil theft.

“We know how important crude oil product is to our economy, hence we are making an effort to ensure that criminals are not given the freedom to sabotage the nation’s economy,” he said.

The army officer said the suspects had already provided useful information that would aid army operations against oil thieves.

He assured the commission would speedily conclude its investigation to hand over the suspects to prosecuting agencies.

(NAN)