The Bayelsa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a 60-year-old mother of 15 children for oil theft.
The grandmother, Victoria Sorkibulor, is said to be popular among the people engaged in illegal oil activities.

Nicknamed Mama Militants, for her known closeness to most militants operating along the creeks of the Niger Delta at the height of militancy, she was arrested at Fish Town, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, by a special team of the NSCDC.

Parading her alongside two of her workers and two other suspects nabbed by the command for pipeline vandalism, the state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said the suspects were nabbed for unlawful possession of adulterated and illegally refined petroleum products.

Sorkibulor was said to be notorious for pipeline vandalism and illegal refining of petroleum products.

Her workers were said to have led the security operatives to her hideout at Fish Town, where she was arrested and brought to Yenagoa.
He said 20 drums of illegally refined kerosene and diesel were seized from the suspects.

Her arrest followed the raid of her illegal refinery by NSCDC operatives, who apprehended her workers while evacuating their illegally refined product in a large wooden boat.

He said while the boat was burnt at the point of arrest, the products were recovered for further investigations and prosecution.

Agu named the other suspects as Goodnews Kurai, Babangida James, Daniel Sokebolou and David Ayibadigenmi while six Yamaha machine, three pumping machine, seven hoses and a locally-made boat were also recovered from the vandals.

Agu vowed to prosecute the suspects, adding that the corps was determined to stop oil theft in the state, “We are warning members of the public to desist from such inimical act. People should think of a better and lawful ways 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.”