African Integrity Magazine – Oil Giant Commends Joint Task Force On The Fight Against Oil Theft

Oil Giant Commends Joint Task Force On The Fight Against Oil Theft

May 25, 2015 Samuel Issues 0

An oil giant Total Nigeria plc has commended the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation PULO SHIELD for its Zero Tolerance against oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region. The Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of the Company and Head of the Port Harcourt Operation Centre, Mr Nicholas Brunet made this remarks when the Commander JTF, Major General Emmanuel Atewe paid him a courtesy call in Port Harcourt.Mr. Brunet while welcoming the Commander and his team to his office commended the Task Force for effectively checkmating the activities of oil thieves, illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandals which he said has encouraged the increase of oil production in Nigeria.

He however appealed to the Commander to increase the security presence in all Total Oil Facilities especially the offshore platform for the protection of lives of about 2350 employee on the pay roll of the company. He reiterated, “We will appreciate if more troops will be deployed to our facilities to protect it from attack by criminals operating in the waterways.” Mr Brunnet further disclosed that about 96 maritime attacks were recorded on the Nigerian Maritime environment in 2013. But relatively not much was recorded in 2014 as a result of the security presence of JTF and other security agencies.

In his response, the Commander JTF, Major General Emmanuel Atewe thanked the Company leadership for the hospitality accorded to him and his team which he said will go a long way to cement the already existing relationship between the Task Force and the oil company. He said the JTF under his command has put in place strategies required to eliminate all oil related crimes in the region. “We are carrying out our mandate in a professional manner through our Zero Tolerance campaign against oil theft and illegal bunkering. The General said, platform has been provided by the Defence Headquarters to fight the criminality. In addition to the platform, General Atewe said, more boats and marine outboard engines with capacity ranging from 200 to 250 Horse Power have been acquired.” General Atewe said he is seeking for harsher and stiffer punitive measures to be meted on oil thieves to deter others from engaging in criminal acts. The Commander also commended some host communities for giving out information to the security operatives which he said led to many successes recorded in the fight against oil criminalities.

In another development, the Joint Task Force special anti illegal oil bunkering and oil theft of Sector 1 has intercepted a Mercedes Benz truck loaded with unquantified volumes of substance suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) along Warri Sapele road in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State. A total of 4 suspects were arrested in connection with the illegal activities. The truck and the product were destroyed insitu while suspects were taken into custody for preliminary investigation.

Holistically, 8 illegal oil bunkering sites were also discovered and destroyed at Ogbengbene and Banjigen creeks in Burutu and Warri Local Government Area of Delta State. The oil thieves were discovered to be operating with fabricated metals, Nylons reservoirs, four cooking pots and 56 drums used for storage of stolen crude oil and illegally refined AGO.

COMMANDER 97 SOG PLEDGES SUPPORT TO FIGHT OIL THIEVES

The Commander 97 Special Operation Group (SOG) Nigerian Air Force Port Harcourt, Air Commodore Olusegun Philip has pledged the support of the Nigerian Air Force in the fight against oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region. The Commander expressed its willingness to support the operation of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation PULO SHJIELD during a familiarization visit to the Commander JTF, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, at the Headquarters Opolo road Yenagoa. Air Commodore Philip further said that he has come to visit him to strategize in order to key into General Aetwe’s Zero Tolerance for oil theft in the Niger Delta.

In his response, the Commander JTF while commending Air Commodore Philip for his new appointment as the Commander 97 SOG, urged him to bring his professionalism and competence to bear in his assignment and justify the confidence reposed on him. In furtherance, Gen Atewe said he does not have any doubt on the new commander, 97 SOG in rendering his unflinching support for the JTF operations. The commander JTF assured him that Operation PULO SHIELD has dismissed the influence of criminalities in the Niger Delta and with his support more successes would be recorded. Additionally, the commander reiterated that new strategies were put in place in conformity with renewed military architecture to confront current sundry crimes facing the Niger Delta region.

FOUR REASONS YOU SHOULD JOIN GEN. ATEWE ON ZERO TOLERANCE TO OIL THEFT, PIPELINE VANDALISM AND OTHER SUNDRY CRIMES IN THE NIGER DELTA

Economic: It dwindles the economy of the nation.
Environmental Degradation: It damages our precious ecological environment and also destroys aquatic lives.
Health Hazard: Exposes the inhabitants of the Niger Delta to various ailments.
Security: Threat to societal stability with blood money.

BY ADO ISA Lieutenant Colonel Coordinator – Joint Media Campaign Centre