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Tag: JTF

  • JTF uncovers illegal bunkering in Rivers

    JTF uncovers illegal bunkering in Rivers

    •32 barges, boats seized
    •Eight suspects arrested

    The Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, has uncovered as illegal bunkering at Onne Port in Rivers State.

    It was learnt that the JTF operatives stormed the port on Tuesday and impounded 32 long barges and Cotonou boats suspected to be used for bunkering.

    The JTF’s monitoring team recently set up by the commander, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, was said to have received information that people were using the port to indulge in oil theft.

    A source, who partook in the operation, said many of the barges were laden with products believed to have been sourced from illegal refineries in the creeks close to the port.

    The source, who pleaded anonymity, said on sighting the JTF, people on board the vessels abandoned them and ran into the creeks.

    He said some of them dived into the water and swam to safety, adding that operators of illegal refineries used Cotonou boats to load the barges.

    The source said one of the barges was loaded with Automated Gas Oil (AGO), adding that the vessel had the capacity to carry 5,000 metric tons or 582,000 litres of the product.

    Describing such activities as a rape on the economy, he lamented that they were being carried out despite the presence of operatives of another security agency.

    The source said Atewe and the JTF’s Chief of Staff, Col. Hilary Nzan, led the Onne raid, adding that samples of the products were taken for laboratory analysis and investigations.

    He said the JTF was determined to punish the persons, including the security personnel linked to the theft, if found guilty.

    Said he: “We will carry out thorough investigations to determine the veracity of the information we got. We know that there are ships licensed to sell petroleum products.

    “But we learnt that people are using it as a cover to buy illegally- refined products. They anchor their barges and use illegally-refined products from illegal refineries to fill them.

    “Sometimes, they mix genuine products with bad ones. We have impounded a Cotonou boat, which supplied such product and arrested the driver.

    “During the operation, some people, who may be benefitting from the illegality, tried to stop us, but we resisted. The barges will be investigated.”

    Col. Nzan confirmed the raid, saying it was carried out based on reports that bunkering was ongoing at the Onne Port.

    He said eight persons were arrested, adding that the JTF took samples of the product for investigation.

    Nzan said one of the suspects was arrested for allegedly stealing 55 gallons of the product.

    Said he: “following on a tip-off, we carried out an operation at Onne Port.

    “The team impounded Cotonou boats and discovered barges suspected to be used for bunkering. Based on the zero tolerance for oil theft, we arrested people. The JTF will investigate the barges at the general area.

    “Some of them were filled with products. We collected samples of the product and tested them to determine their quality. Most of the suspects ran away when they saw our troops.”

  • JTF arrests 11 for stealing 134 drums of oil

    JTF arrests 11 for stealing 134 drums of oil

    The Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, in Delta State has arrested 11 suspects for stealing 134 drums of petroleum products and siphoning oil from a pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Acting on a tip-off, JTF troops deployed in Omadine, Warri South Local Government Area were said to have intercepted a trailer carrying the products.

    The trailer was conveying 50 drums of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO), 49 drums of crude oil and 35 drums of sludge.

    The soldiers reportedly arrested three suspects and impounded the vehicle.

    The Media Coordinator, Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, said the troops also apprehended two suspects at Aziza Junction in Okpe Local Government Area.

    He said the suspects were conveying a 400-litre container in a Mitsubishi Gallant car.

    Col. Anka said substances suspected to be illegally refined AGO were found in the container.

    “Both the vehicle and the products were set ablaze; the suspects are in custody before being handed over to a prosecuting agency,” he said.

    The spokesman confirmed that six of the suspects were arrested while illegally siphoning products from an NNPC pipeline at Okwagbude Community in Okpe Local Government Area.

    He said separate troops deployed in Igbematoro, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, discovered and destroyed 23 illegal oil refineries.

    Other items destroyed are 18 illegal oil dumps, 34 drums filled with stolen crude, six Cotonou boats and three pumping machines.

    Anka noted that troops impounded a barge used for illegal oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta.

    “The barge containing unascertained quantity of crude oil was impounded at Mangbiye creek in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State,”he said.

     

     

  • 35 die in market bombing

    35 die in market bombing

    68 injured

    Doctors’ strike takes toll

    N1m for victims’ families 

    Maiduguri, the beleaguered Borno State capital, was in pain again yesterday. A bomb went off, killing no fewer than 35 – according to a National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) source.

    The source said he got the figure after bodies had been counted at the hospital. He declined to be quoted, because he is not authorised to speak officially.

    Among the dead were members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) – the vigilante group that has been complementing the military in tackling Boko Haram, the insurgency group which has killed thousands. The Civilian JTF lost no fewer than 16 members.

    Another 68 people were injured. Rescue operation at the hospital was affected by the doctors’ strike.

    Red Cross officials and nurses were attending to the injured. Those who required urgent surgery could not be attended to.

    A Peugeot 505 saloon car carrying charcoal but loaded with laden explosive devices exploded around the busy El-Kanemi Round-about, Monday Market and about 40 metres from the office of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) at about 7am.

    No organisation has claimed responsibility, but it is believed that the Boko Haram insurgents did it.

    The chairman of the Civilian JTF attached to Sector 3, Mallam Iliya Saidu, told Governor Kashim Shettima, who visited the injured in the hospital, that his men identified nine members who died in the blast.

    Chairman of the Monday Market Traders Association Alhaji Bukar Jere insisted that 16 Civilian JTF members were among the “dozens” of people killed.

    He told Governor Shettima at the scene of the blast: “Sixteen civilian JTF men were among those killed in the blast. 68 people sustained serious injuries”.

    He said four vehicles and four tricycles were burnt in the blast, adding that the incident also affected 49 shops and wares displayed by petty traders on the road side.

    Mallam Umaru Jubrin, a wheel barrow pusher in the market who had a minor injury on his face said: “The Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were concealed under bags of charcoal in a Peugeot 505 saloon car, which was stationed by a suspected Boko Haram detonator in the busy area.

    “After noticing the parked vehicle, some men of the Civilian JTF were alerted. Unfortunately,  when about 20 of the Civilian JTF men approached the vehicle,  it exploded leaving about 16 of them dead. Over 30 others were killed in the blast that shook the city of its  foundation.

    “Also, over 68 people, including Civilian JTF members were seriously injured in the blast. They were all rushed to various hospitals in Maiduguri.”

    A trader, Mallam Hussaini Sani, said: “We usually come here very early as there is nothing to do at home; so, we come around to wait until the market is open. As we were chatting, we heard ‘boom!’ A sound of bomb blast. We ran towards the smoke area and saw many people on the ground before the security came. Many people were killed.”

    Police spokesman DSP Gideon Jibril said: “Our officers and men are already at the scene of the explosion as evacuation of bodies is ongoing.”

    Shettima left the scene for the State Specialist Hospital, Umaru Shehu General Hospital in Bulumkutu, where he sympathised with the victims.

    He prayed for the repose of the souls of the dead.

    He said the government would foot the medical bills of the victims. Families of those who lost their loved ones or relatives, particularly the Civilian JTF, will get N1 million each, he added.

    Shettima condemned the perpetrators of the bombing as” anti- Islam”,  “barbaric” and “wicked”.

    He wondered why some miscreants were using the period of Ramadan to cause havoc.

    A military source said about 24 people were killed and 50 others seriously injured.

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has ordered heavy surveillance of Maiduguri and its environs.

    According to the DHQ, the insurgents used a truck loaded with charcoal and firewood for the bombing.

    A military source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Preliminary investigation indicated that 24 people were killed and 50 injured during the blast at the Monday market.

    “Going by the information available to the military, a truck conveying firewood and charcoal was used by the insurgents this time around.

    “The truck was neatly parked at the market as if it wanted to discharge its contents but the IED, which was neatly tucked inside the truck, exploded. The truck was deliberately put at a spot where many buyers and sellers usually converge.

    “Obviously when the bomb exploded, it affected many people who came early to the market.”

    Another military source said: “What we have been able to establish so far is that a truck was used for the explosion by the insurgents.

    “We are working on another clue that a Keke NAPEP hit the IED laden truck, leading to a huge explosion, which overwhelmed the Monday market.

    “The casualty figure was high because most residents of Maiduguri are doing early morning shopping because of the security situation in the town.

    “Apart from cordoning off the area, the security agencies and the military have started investigation into the incident.”

    The thinking in security circles is that because security has been tightened, the insurgents have devised a new method by disguising with vehicles which do not usually undergo intensive search.

    “How do you ask a truck driver carrying logs of firewood and charcoal to offload these items?

    “This is purely a guerilla tactics being adopted by the insurgents because Maiduguri has virtually become unsafe for them. These methods are always being used by the Taliban and Al-Qaeda,” the source said.

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has ordered “heavy surveillance and combing” of Maiduguri and its environs.

    “If it now means asking truck drivers to offload the items in their vehicles, we will get to that level,” the source said, pleading not to be named.

     

  • Soldier’s stabbing generates furore in Bayelsa

    The stabbing of a Lance Corporal attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, by a commercial sex worker has generated furore in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    The JTF in a statement signed by its Media Coordinator, Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, claimed that none of its soldiers was stabbed by a prostitute.

    Anka in the statement alleged that the media misrepresented the matter, describing the report as malicious, misleading and lacking in objectivity and credibility.

    But further investigation revealed that the soldier was actually stabbed by a commercial sex worker at a red-light district popularly called Hospital Road junction.

    It was, however, found that the soldier was still recuperating at one of the hospitals in Yenagoa.

    An eyewitness said the soldier’s life was saved by a detachment of the police who immediately took the soldier to the hospital after arresting the lady.

    The source who pleaded anonymity further gave details of the incident.

    She said: “The entire problem started when a soldier approached one of the commercial sex workers and negotiated for overnight sex. He offered to pay the lady N1, 500 but the lady insisted on N2, 000.

    “Shortly after that, another guy came and offered a higher price which the lady accepted. When the lady wanted to go with the new guy, she suddenly started looking for her handset.

    “She asked the soldier whether he saw the missing handset. The soldier who felt he had been jilted became angry and started beating the girl. The girl took a knife and stabbed the soldier in his stomach.”

    The source said the intestines of the soldier gorged out after the stabbing, adding that the soldier should appreciate the police for rescuing him.

    Also, a top police source corroborated the eyewitness’ report, saying the prostitute was in police custody.

    The police source who pleaded anonymity also said the JTF wrote to the commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, requesting him to transfer the suspect to it for questioning.

    JTF reportedly promised to return the lady to the police after its investigation.

    The source said: “The commissioner, however, declined the request and asked the JTF to come to the police command and conduct its interrogation. The soldier was in danger when the police rescued him. We even took the photograph of the incident.”

     

  • Woman stabs soldier

    Woman stabs soldier

    A commercial sex worker has allegedly stabbed a soldier attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield to death for “refusing” to pay for her services.

    The soldier was reportedly stabbed twice in the stomach by his sex partner identified as a Bini girl.

    The incident, which occurred at 4am yesterday, caused panic among other prostitutes at the red light district at Hospital Road Junction on DSP Alamieyeseigha Way, Yenagoa.

    Other customers were said to have hurriedly left the area to avoid the prying eyes of onlookers.

    There were conflicting reports on when the soldier died, some said he died instantly, others said he gave up the ghost in the hospital.

    An eyewitness said an argument emanated from the suspect’s shanty in the morning.

    She said: “After the soldier refused to pay, there was an argument very early in the morning. The girl who was angry grabbed a knife and stabbed the soldier in the stomach. We later saw the soldier struggling with blood flowing from the wound in his stomach.

    “We are now living in fear because there may be reprisal attack from other soldiers. Most of us have decided to stay away from the area for sometimes.”

    The Commissioner of Police, Hilary Opara, said the “culprit had been arrested”.

    He, however, said the police were yet to receive report of the victim’s death.

     

  • Panic as JTF chases Boko Haram suspect

    Deafening sound woke up residents of Mairi, a student-community close the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) last week.

    Students living in the community were jolted by the sound suspected to be bomb explosion.

    The incident, which occurred at 12:30am, led to chaos in the community for hours.

    It was gathered that members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) stationed in the community got information that a suspected Boko Haram member was in a hotel in the neighbourhood.

    Sources said the suspect took to his heels before the arrival of the JTF operatives. This made the JTF men to search houses in the area, asking the occupants to watch out for the suspect.

    Aliyu Abubakar, a student living in the community, said: “It happened at 12:30am when the civilian JTF banged our doors and asked us to come out. They kept on shouting ‘wake up and preserve your life. Come out now and safe guard your home’. All of us came out and we kept watch till day break. Those who did not come out early had their doors smashed and forced out.”

    Aliyu said students were asked to produce their identity cards.

    Panicky residents took to their heels when they heard the sound, thinking it was an attack.

    Simon Obialu, a resident of Titanic Male Hostel, said: “When I heard the noise coming from Mairi, I was very scared. I thought it was an attack. The story of Yobe College massacre two days earlier surfaced on my mind. And the only thing I could do was stay awake till the following day.”

    Some students placed distress calls to their parents, which heightened tension in the community. At the time of this report, it could not be ascertained if the suspect was captured by the JTF.

    The school management swung into action to secure the lives of students by drafting security operatives to strategic points within the university community.

    A final year student said: “We have never had it this tough. I can say that students are under tension; it is visible on our faces. The Yobe College massacre was a bad omen to us. It sent fear down our spine. That was why any little uproar makes students to run. Our only hope at a time is the protection from God.”

    Idris Suleiman, a medical student, said: “We are living on survival mode. Each night casts dark shadows on our minds due to the fear of the unknown. Nevertheless, I’m optimistic that we will survive these moments and everything will soon return back to normalcy.”

  • JTF denies Boko Haram’s presence in Bayelsa

    Says, ‘MEND no longer in existence’

    Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, on Thursday denied rumoured presence of members of the Boko Haram sect in Bayelsa State.

    There was widespread rumour in Yenagoa that members of the sect have infiltrated the state of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Some persons also claimed that the presence of the terror group was the reason why schools were closed down on Thursday.

    But in a swift reaction, the Media Coordinator, JTF, Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, debunked the rumour, describing it as false and misleading.

    He said it was the handiwork of mischief makers with the intention of creating panic among the good people of the state.

    He said the closure of schools in the state was in line with a directive credited to the National Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Michael Olukoya.

    He said Olukoya ordered all members of the union to stay away from classrooms as a protest against the killing of their colleagues and abduction of over 200 girls of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, by Boko Haram.

    “The JTF urge good people of Bayelsa State and the general public to go about their normal business without fear as the command is working assiduously in collaboration with other security agencies to protect lives and property in the state,” he said.

    On the claims by the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) that it was responsible for a blast that occurred at the Port Harcourt refinery, Rivers State, Anka said the militant group was no longer in existence.

    He recalled that MEND was among the groups that accepted the federal government’s amnesty offer in 2009.

     

  • Tension in Maiduguri over shooting of JTF member

    Tension rose on Sunday in Maiduguri, Bornu State as members of the vigilate group known as civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) took to the streets protesting the shooting of their member by the military.

    A soldier was alleged to have shot a tricycle driver who passed through the wrong route in one of their numerous check points in Maiduguri and this sparked anger among the tricycles riders who are mostly active members of the vigilante

    “Since the fellow shot is believed to be a member of the civilian JTF, he called on his people who were outraged about the development and marched to the palace of the Shehu to report the matter, “said one of the soldiers.

    It is not clear whether the Shehu granted audience but hundreds of civilain JTF boys were seen returning from the Palace when The Nation visited the place.

    Many of them armed with sticks and cutlasses were seen challenging vehicles and keke napaps without green leaves on their winds screens to go get one if they wanted to continue as members.

    Heavy tanks were seen parked around sensitive areas of the capital city like Barga road where several banks like Diamond, FCMB and Unity banks are located and the western avenue area of the town.

    One of the managers of diamond Bank told The Nation on phone that there was no threat of arson by the angry JTF boys on their structures.”I think they brought the tank to forstall any escalation of tension to the rest of the capital which was observing a calm Sunday.”

    Attempts by one of the reporters of the News Agency of Nigeria to cover the incident the crowd was met with stiff resistance by the civilian JTF members who broke his windscreen.

    At Bolori junction, boys of the civilian JTF were seen burning tyres as at 2pm almost 5hours after the incident first occured around the western roundabout which was the main theatre of tension as at the time of writing this report.

     

  • JTF, trade unions unite to fight oil theft

    JTF, trade unions unite to fight oil theft

    Oil theft. The phrase appears to have become permanently fixed in Nigeria’s crime diary. Every day, people break pipelines with venom, setting up illegal refineries in dexterity and ferrying with swiftness stolen oil out of the creeks of the Niger Delta.

    But, the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, is relentless in its war against economic sabotage. Like the proverbial hunter that keeps shooting at a bird that refuses  to perch, the JTF especially in the regime of Maj-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, has continued to explore every possible means to end the endless economic sabotage.

    Maj-Gen. Atewe recently sought a collaboration with trade unions to facilitate the war against oil theft. Swali Market Association, representatives of keke NAPEP Association, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMA) and Spare Part Dealers Association were among the trade unions that met with the commander at the Headquarters of JTF in Yenagoa.

    Maj-Gen. Atewe described trade unions as a key element in the fight against oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta Region.  He said that the fight against illegal oil bunkering and oil theft is a collective responsibility and should not be left in the hand of security Agencies alone.

    “Security is everybody’s business and should not be left in the hands of security agencies alone.  There should be synergy between stakeholders, community leaders and the JTF especially in the areas of giving out credible information that will aid the task force to carry out its mandate” he said.

    He insisted that the JTF would not successfully tackle the menace without partnering with stakeholders. He requested for credible information about the activities of oil thieves in the creeks to enable him confront the saboteurs headlong.

    Apart from the economic damage, he said illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism have left the region in the throes of environmental and health hazards.

    He said: “I am looking for information on the activities of these criminals and I assure you that we will not give out the source of our information.  The fight against criminalities in Niger Delta can only be reliable and effective through providing timely information to us.

    “Apart from the economic lost, the continues rupturing  and breaking of oil pipelines causes a lot of health hazards to the people of the region thereby polluting the environment which could in turn result in the out-break of epidemic.”

    Maj-Gen. Atewe said  the ongoing military exercise in the creeks was aimed at eradicating all forms of illegal oil bunkering in the region. He said the exercise was to create a good atmosphere for oil companies to do their legitimate business to boost the nation’s economy.

    He assured the associations of JTF’s readiness to execute its mandate professionally and called on all stakeholders to join in the fight against criminality and other sundry crimes.

    He informed the union leaders of the composition of JTF and said the outfit had been expanded to include other paramilitary agencies. He named the newly incorporated agencies as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil companies.

    Maj-Gen.  Atewe stated that the newly included agencies have helped JTF to dominate the creeks and waterways in the region. He said the development has provided aggressive aerial surveillance of oil installations aimed at checking activities of economic sabotage.

    In his remarks, the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Erebuo ThankGod, thanked the commander for the interactive forum.

    He said the opportunity has helped stakeholders to contribute their ideas on the best way to tackle security challenges. He said the suggestions proffered during the meeting would help the commander to actualise the mandate of JTF.

    He assured the commander of his union’s support in fighting criminalities in the region.  Also, the Chairman of Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association Bayelsa State chapter, Henry Igborigi, sought the JTF’s assistance in checking the movement of vehicles to mechanic village.

    He pledged his association’s support in the war against oil theft promising to give JTF credible information to actualise its mandate.

  • JTF destroys nine illegal refineries

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta said that it destroyed nine illegal refineries and impounded a barge laden with suspected stolen crude in multiple raids on oil thieves.
    A statement issued by Lt.-Col. Mustapha Anka, Media Coordinator of JTF, in Yenagoa on Thursday stated that the raids were carried out within the last 10 days.
    It stated that the barge, Dera 1, intercepted on Brass Creek, Brass Local Government Area of the state, was in custody of the JTF.
    The JTF spokesman, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, said the vessel and crew would be handed over to prosecuting agency after preliminary investigations were concluded.
    In another raid, JTF troops destroyed eight illegal crude oil distillery camps on Tebidade Brass Agip pipeline in Gbamatoru Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
    The statement stated that five crude oil and Automated Gas Oil (AGO) dumps filed with suspected stolen crude and illegally refined AGO were destroyed during the operation.
    It further stated that the Maritime Component of the JTF patrolling on Okpumani Creek in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta intercepted two wooden boats laden with suspected stolen crude.
    The spokesman said the troop seized and destroyed two pumping machines in an abandoned well head and a fibre boat on site.