JTF devises new strategy to check crude oil theft
•Warns against attack on troops
THE Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, has devised new method to further fight pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
Apart from raiding of illegal oil bunkering sites which has led to the discovery of 2,700 illegal refining sites between January and August this year in Rivers and Bayelsa states respectively, the task force has also embarked on sensitisation visit to the oil and gas communities in the region.
The Commander, Sector Two Brigade, Brig-Gen. Tukur Burutai, during a visit to Bille Community in Degema Local Council of Rivers State at the weekend said the directive came from the Defence Headquarters and was aimed at sensitizing the community heads and youths on the dangers associated with continuous illegal refining and vandalism of pipelines.
Burutai told the Bille community heads and youths that illegal oil bunkering increases environmental damage to the aquatic life and affects the healthy living of the people.
His words: “You know the effects of tampering with oil facilities; continuous refining of crude in an illegal way not only contribute to the environmental damage to the aquatic life but affects the benefits of the crude.
“When crude is illegally refined, the one that is wasted is far higher than what is used. You don’t get up to two per cent of the value of the crude when it is refined illegally; the wastage is too much, that is about 98 per cent of the crude is wasted.
“This small and quick benefit, where does it lead to? The damage is enormous but when crude oil is exported and refined, the benefit is for the generality of the society”.
He reiterated the determination of the task force to end oil theft and pipeline vandalism in Rivers and Bayelsa states, lamenting that the acts have affected the nation’s income.
The JTF Two Brigade Commander also drew the attention of the community heads to the alleged threats by youths of Bille community to attack the task force. Burutai described the threat as unwarranted, stressing that the task force are on national assignment to ensure peace and economic growth of the country.
According to him, “it will be counter productive to attack the JTF troops, we are doing our work for the benefit of our people but when we get such threat, what we do is just to sit down and wait for them to attack us and when they attack us, you will know the consequence.”
Burutai advised the youths to channel their energies into more useful ventures for the development of their communities and the nation at large. He reasoned that the youths would have better future when engaged in useful ventures than indulging in criminal activities.
THE Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, has devised new method to further fight pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
Apart from raiding of illegal oil bunkering sites which has led to the discovery of 2,700 illegal refining sites between January and August this year in Rivers and Bayelsa states respectively, the task force has also embarked on sensitisation visit to the oil and gas communities in the region.
The Commander, Sector Two Brigade, Brig-Gen. Tukur Burutai, during a visit to Bille Community in Degema Local Council of Rivers State at the weekend said the directive came from the Defence Headquarters and was aimed at sensitizing the community heads and youths on the dangers associated with continuous illegal refining and vandalism of pipelines.
Burutai told the Bille community heads and youths that illegal oil bunkering increases environmental damage to the aquatic life and affects the healthy living of the people.
His words: “You know the effects of tampering with oil facilities; continuous refining of crude in an illegal way not only contribute to the environmental damage to the aquatic life but affects the benefits of the crude.
“When crude is illegally refined, the one that is wasted is far higher than what is used. You don’t get up to two per cent of the value of the crude when it is refined illegally; the wastage is too much, that is about 98 per cent of the crude is wasted.
“This small and quick benefit, where does it lead to? The damage is enormous but when crude oil is exported and refined, the benefit is for the generality of the society”.
He reiterated the determination of the task force to end oil theft and pipeline vandalism in Rivers and Bayelsa states, lamenting that the acts have affected the nation’s income.
The JTF Two Brigade Commander also drew the attention of the community heads to the alleged threats by youths of Bille community to attack the task force. Burutai described the threat as unwarranted, stressing that the task force are on national assignment to ensure peace and economic growth of the country.
According to him, “it will be counter productive to attack the JTF troops, we are doing our work for the benefit of our people but when we get such threat, what we do is just to sit down and wait for them to attack us and when they attack us, you will know the consequence.”
Burutai advised the youths to channel their energies into more useful ventures for the development of their communities and the nation at large. He reasoned that the youths would have better future when engaged in useful ventures than indulging in criminal activities.
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