Troops of the Sector two anti-illegal oil bunkering squad of the Operation Pulo Shield has intercepted three illegal oil bunkering Barges filled with Automated Gas Oil (AGO).

The squad, patrolling along Alakiri creek and Ikwete Waterside of Rivers State intercepted the product suspected to have been siphoned from PPMC pipeline at Imo River. No suspects were arrested during the operation.

This was made known in a statement signed by the Cordinator, joint media campaign centre, Col Isa Ado, revealing that the troops, during the operation intercepted two tankers loaded with AGO and six Gulf cars conveying illegally refined products.

Other items said to be recovered during the operations included a bus loaded with stolen products and five speed boats.

The barges are said to be in the custody of Operation Pulo Shield while other equipment were destroyed in situ.

"The troops at Makoba waterside arrested 13 suspected oil thieves operating with 24 locally made boats filled with illegally refined AGO. A total number of six outboard and six pumping machines were also recovered by the troops.

"Five trucks loaded with stolen products were also impounded. The suspects are in custody of Operation Pulo Shield for preliminary investigation while the equipment were destroyed in situ in line with the mandate of the operation in the region," the statement read.

Also, illegal oil bunkering sites, numbering seven, were also destroyed along Ogbenekrukru and channel Cawthorne, where oil thieves operates with drums and dug out pit filled with stolen crude.

The sector one of the operation also intercepted a truck with registration number LAGOS FST 839 XA, loaded with 45000 litres of substance suspected to be AGO at Imeke Community Auchi in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

Three suspects, who gave their names as Ehi Joshua, Hassan Ilegieno and Saturday James were reportedly arrested. The suspects and the trucks are in custody of Operation Pulo Shield for investigation.

Meanwhile, two suspected armed robbers, with pump action and live cartridges, were also arrested while robbing a victim at Uti Community in Uvwie LGA of Edo State.

The suspects and the recovered items were handed over to the Nigerian Police for investigation and prosecution.