by Azubuike Azikiwe

A 60-year-old crude oil thief, Victoria Sorkibulor, has been arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Bayelsa State Command.

Sorkibulor, who is popluarly known as ‘Mama Militant’ was arrested at Fish Town, the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area by a special team of the corps.

On Monday, 22 September, she was paraded at the state command of the NSCDC in Yenagoa along with two of her workers and two other suspects arrested by the command for pipeline vandalism.

Sorkibulor, a mother of 15, was reportedly notorious for pipeline vandalism and illegal refining of petroleum products. Her workers led the security operatives to her hideout at Fish Town where she was apprehended and taken to Yenagoa.

The Commandant said all the suspects, Goodnews Kurai, Babangida James, Daniel Sokebolou and David Ayibadigenmi, alongside Mama Militant, were arrested on the night of Sunday, 21 September, at different locations in the Southern Ijaw area of the state.

The state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said the suspects were arrested for unlawful possession of adulterated and illegally refined petroleum products.

He said Sorkibulor was arrested shortly after her workers were rounded up while attempting to evacuate their illegally refined product in a large wooden boat, adding that the boat was burnt at the point of arrest and the products were recovered for further investigations and prosecution.

Agu also revealed that six Yamaha machines, three pumping machines, seven hoses and a locally-made boat were recovered from the suspects, while assuring that the NSCDC was determined to stop oil theft in the state.

Agu said, “We are warning members of the public to desist from such criminal act. People should think of a better and lawful way of earning a living. We are not going to rest on our oars until we fight illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism to a standstill.”

Kolapo Olapoju