By Amgbare Ekaunkumo,Yenagoa
A Niger Delta Security task Force known as the anti-Pipeline vandalization, Oil Theft and Illegal Bunkering Volunteers which comprises of Ex-militant groups in the creeks of Niger Delta, said the groups agitating for the revocation of the surveillance contract awarded to the Ocean Marine Solutions are fake and known to be involved in alleged cases of pipeline vandalization and sea piracy.
The Security task Force set up to tackle rising issues of oil Pipeline Vandalisation and crude oil theft in the Nine States of the region noted that, those calling for for the revocation of the surveillance contracts for the protection of the 87-kilometre Trans Forcados crude oil Pipeline (TFP) operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are enemies of Niger Delta region whose aim is to cause dissatisfaction and crisis in the peaceful riverine communities.
The Security task force stated that, it is uncharitable for anyone or group of persons to have come up with such an untrue allegation aimed at blackmailing and maligning a company that has deliver on it’s mandate of securing the nation’s assets over the years.
The Leader of the task Force, Gen. Fiawei Pathfinder popularly known as Osama, in a statement issued to newsmen via electronic mail, argued that the calls for the dissolution of the crude oil pipeline surveillance contracts is illegal, suspicious and a ploy by the illegal oil bunkerers in the Forcados and Escravos to have an u hindered access to Nigeria’s crude oil.
According to the statement, “Nigerians and the security agencies should be aware that there has been a sustained campaign against pipeline vandalization and illegal bunkering activities in the creeks of the Niger Delta which has led to sustained peace, security and increase in the nation’s oil output. “
” We, as peace ambassadors, that accepted the Federal Government’s amnesty, condemn in totality, the unwarranted allegations made by some group of self-acclaimed criminal and misguided elements, calling for the termination of the crude oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded to an indigenous company, Ocean Marine Solutions owned by High Chief Hosa Okunbor.”
” We want to put on record that some of the groups of Oil thieves disguising as agitators are not even from an oil producing Community. They are from Ayakoromor which is not part and parcel of the Eleven cluster host communities recognized by the NNPC Trans Forcardos Pipeline run off way line operated by the Ocean Marine Solutions Company that is handling the TFP surveillance job. “
” We call on these groups to stop the planned re-activation of the illegal Bunkering activities in the creek and they should know that we are very much aware of their role during the wake of the inglorious era of the Niger Delta Avengers operations in the region. We know they are not from the TFP or Escravos and Egbema host communities and as such should stay clear from igniting insecurity, oil theft and violence. “
” We also want to put it on record that it is untrue that captain Hosa Okunbor had in any way sideline any of the host communities of their rights or deny them from the surveillance job slots in the creek and as a matter of fact it is on note that the surveillance job slots are all handled by the host communities in the creek at the grassroots and the surveillance jobs are been given to the host community youths who are from the various host communities cut across to the TFP/Escravos and the Bini river Egbema pipelines that are recognized by the NNPC. “
” We, the recognized Task Force in the region, want to call on the general public, security agencies and the Presidency to disregard the purported cheap blackmail being cooked and doctored against High Chief Hosa Okunbor the by the so called groups.
” And therefore we want to use this medium to call on the federal government and the Nigerian Navy, the Joint Task force and the various law enforcement agencies with the Governor of Delta state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to disregard the above cheap blackmail and false allegations sponsored by the group of known oil thieves.”
” It is a cheap blackmail that the groups and their agents of mischief to stay clear from sponsored blackmail that allege that High Chief Captain Hosa Okunbor sublet the pipeline surveillance job slots to his Benin kinsmen and his political friends. We have investigated this allegation and found it not only false but totally false.”
