The war on illegal oil refineries in the Niger-Delta is intensifying, with about 120 of such refineries destroyed in the last couple of days by the Joint Task Force in parts of Delta State.
According to Co-rodinator of media unit of the JTF, Lt-Colonel Rabe Abubakar, the determination of the JTF Commander, Brig-General Naven Wuyep Rimtip, to deal a fatal blow on illegal oil bunkering, vis-a-vis other forms of criminality in Nigeria’s oil-rich region led to the raging campaign against substandard refineries.
Abubakar, while confirming the destruction to THISDAY in Warri yesterday, of a total of 118 local oil refineries in Okwagbe and Egboide in Sapele and Ughelli South local government areas, said illegal crude oil theft and bunkering would be drastically reduced, if the criminals could no longer run the illegal refineries.
Three of such refineries were, two days earlier, also destroyed by the security outfit in boundary communities between Delta and Bayelsa states, the Joint Media Co-ordinator said.
The successes were made possible through information gathered from the JTF intelligence, he noted.
He, however, quoted Rimtip as expressing “shock and disbelief,” at the rumour that the JTF had launched indiscriminate attacks on communities in the area.
“The JTF is no doubt on top of the situation in its operations against oil theft, illegal local oil refineries and criminalities in the Niger-Delta,” Abubakar told THISDAY, adding, “this was amply demonstrated over the weekend, when Commander of JTF, Brig-General Wuyep Rimtip, led his men to destroy 118 illegal oil refineries at Okwagbe and Egbo-ide.
Rimtip expressed shock at the news that his men raided a community indiscriminately, and described the rumour as diversionary and the handiwork of those who want to create ill-feelings against the JTF.
Aug192008