*Flag off Operation Safety Checks
By Amgbare Ekaunkumo,Yenagoa
The Joint Military Task Force have destroyed illegal oil refineries in Alakiri camp in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers state.
The Commander Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade made this known while delivering his speech at the flag off ceremony of operation Safety check 6.
Rear Admiral Akinrinade said it impounded 22 vessels, 42 barges 210 outboard motor engines and 410 other types of boats, 56 tanker trucks and 313 other vehicles.
it was further gathered that OPDS averted over 313 infractions on Trans Niger, Trans Ramos and Trans Escravos Pipeline which is 71.6 percent of the total attempts made on the pipelines between January and September 2019.
Akinrinade said the operation is aimed at stepping up operation tempo in the joint operation area as the year gradually comes to an end.
Akinrinade noted that the operation was part of the renewed efforts of OPDS to protect oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta region.
He stressed that the military had intensified its efforts to frustrate the activities of oil thieves and vandals whom he described as economic saboteurs.
He said: “It could be recalled that OPDS successfully conducted Safety Checks 1-5 with tremendous achievements.
“Safety Check 5 which was conducted from 5, March 19 to 9, Sept. 2019 resulted to the arrest of about 553 suspects, destructions of 988 illegal refineries and 15 militants’/pirates’ camps.”
He lauded the Governor of Rivers State as well as the management of Eroton Exploration and Production Limited, adding that the JTF will continue to leverage on the supports in the fulfilment of OPDS mandate.