There has been a clash between Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike who accused the federal government of not doing enough to curb illegal oil bunkering and soot In the state and the Defence Headquarters(DHQ) that said the federal government has done enough in controlling illegal bunkering through the operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The Defence Headquarters at its bi-weekly press briefing on the operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria within the past 2 weeks, which was held on Thusday Jauńuary 20, 2022, stated that its troops’ land, maritime and air operations within the period had yielded appreciable results and forestalled activities of vandals as well as other economic saboteurs in the oil-rich Niger Delta Region.
It pointed out that some of these operations were executed at different locations in villages, creeks and towns in Emohua, Ikwerre, Port Harcourt and Ahoada LGAs of Rivers State.
Continuing, it stated that other locations are villages, towns and creeks in; Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North LGAs of Delta State as well as in Ekeremor, Brass and Southern Ijaw LGAs of Bayelsa State, adding that operations were conducted at Opobo creek and some communities in Mbo LGA of AkwaIbom State as well as Ukwa West LGA of Abia State, which yielded significant results within the period under review.
It said, “troops discovered and immobilized a total of 39 illegal refining sites,91cooking ovens,24reservoirs, 17 large dugout pits and 96storage tanks in the last 2 weeks and that a total 637,500 litresof illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil; 950,000litresof stolen crude oil were recovered in the course of the operations.
It further said, “10 criminals associated with pipeline vandalism, piracy, illegal oil bunkering and armed robbery were arrested within the period. Also, troops recovered 3 assorted arms, 48 rounds of different caliber of ammunitions, 2 AK-47 rifle magazines as well as 17 pieces of galvanized pipes and 23 wooden boats among other items used for illegal oil bunkering activities in the course of the operations. All the arrested criminals and recovered items have been handed over to relevant security agencies for further action”.
But Governor Wike during a meeting he had with traditional rulers in the State at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday January 21,2022, regretted that the Federal Government which controls the oil industry and the security agencies has been indifferent to the soot pandemic and the damage it is inflicting on the health of the residents of Rivers State.
“I should think that the way federal government intends to fight insurgency, is the way they should fight illegal oil bunkering, because it is a sabotage on the national economy. Very big sabotage. It affects our own revenue. If we are supposed to produce 2 million barrels for example, we are now producing 1.2 million. And in that 1.2 million barrels, It affects Rivers state because we are not producing up to the number we are supposed to produce, and then we can’t get the money to do whatever you want us to do”, he said.
The governor also said illegal oil crude refinery activities constitute environmental hazard capable of causing cancer related illnesses in the State.
According to him, his primary concern is to ensure that the health of residents of the State is not jeopardised.
“It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to see how this thing can be stopped. As I speak to you, nobody has called me from the Federal Government to say how they can support us. But that is not my business. My business is the health of my people. I will not because the federal government is not interested to stop it, therefore my people should die. If everybody dies, who are you going to govern”, he stated.
Governor Wike, berated the Nigerian Police for being complicit in the criminal act of illegal oil bunkering, which is why they are not very committed to the fight to stop the operations.
He also described as embarrassing how officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have continued to be complicit in the act and shamelessly be involved in sabotaging the national economy.
“I don’t know how I can be a security officer sent to a place to protect people, to protect whatsoever belongs to the Federal Government, at the same time, I’m involved in sabotaging the national economy. I don’t understand how I can wear uniform and be involved in that. If they do not want to support us, we have no choice but to expose all the atrocities that is going on in this State.”
Governor Wike said he recently received intelligence that an Army major was providing exist services to illegally refined petroleum products and had to send security personnel to thwart this.
“In fact, I had to send my special security to go and intercept a major who was trying to escort some of these illegal products.”
The governor declared that his administration will not hesitate to expose any security personnel involved in such illegal refinery activities.
Governor Wike frown at the inability of the Nigerian Police to arrest Chief W. J. Wocha, Fubara Ohaka and other members of the illegal bunkering cartel operating at Ibaa community in Emohua Local Government Area.
He said the names of all indicted persons will be published soon and they will be declared wanted.
