JTF nabs two over fake crude oil documents

The Joint Task Force, codenamed Operation Delta Safe, has paraded two suspects who specialised in the printing of fake documents to facilitate the sale of stolen crude oil in the Niger Delta region.

JTF Commander John Okeke, told journalists on Saturday at the command headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, that Magaji Musa and Umar Musa were arrested when troops stormed their Port Harcourt residence early on Tuesday.

Okeke said, “This syndicate specialised in printing fake documents for stolen crude oil in the Operation Delta Safe Joint Operation Area. This syndicate is responsible for procuring fake documents to provide free passage for oil thieves’ activities in the Joint Operation Area.

“Such act has made it possible for oil thieves to evade arrest, which has indeed contributed largely to the reported illegal oil bunkering operations in the oil-producing region.

“However, acting on intelligence on the activities of the syndicate, troops of Operation Delta Safe stormed the Port Harcourt residence of the ring leader, one Mr Magaji Musa and Umar Musa, in the early hours of Tuesday, August 20, 2024, and apprehended him.

“Subsequently, documents were recovered from his house bearing fake stamps of some associations and waybills and forged identity cards were recovered from his house.

“The suspects had confessed to procuring fake waybills, illegal sales of crude and diversion of stolen crude oil from pipelines.

“Presently, the culprits are in the custody of the Joint Task Force, South-South Operation Delta Safe, and they will be paraded before the media and subsequently face prosecution in due course.”

Okeke assured all that no stone would be left unturned until criminality is eradicated or reduced to the barest minimum in the oil-producing region.

He also reiterated the commitment of the Joint Task Force towards stamping out illegal oil refining and oil facility vandalism in the region.

Musa, who is said to be the ring leader of the syndicate, revealed to journalists that he has been in the stolen crude oil business since 2011.