The Civil Society for Peace, Security and Development (CSPSD) has accused some “crude oil thieves” of being behind the media “attacks and campaign of calumny recently launched against the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.”
The organisation said the intent of the attacks was to end the dedication and commitment of the Naval boss to address oil bunkering in the Niger Delta.
Convener of the group, Obadiah Ovye said this at a press conference in Abuja.
Ovye described the allegations against the Chief of Naval Staff as “baseless and unfounded,” said the purpose was to blackmail and tarnish the image of Ogalla.
He said the endgame of the attackers was to see to the sack of Ogalla so they (oil thieves) could continue their illicit business unhindered.
He said the allegations that Ogalla collected bribes amounting to the tune of $170 million to facilitate crude oil theft in connivance with foreign nationals was a poorly orchestrated hatchet job sponsored by oil thieves he had put away from business.
While passing a vote of confidence on Ogalla for being a true and unfased patriot who has restored sanity to the nation’s maritime domain, the group drummed their support and promised to continue mobilisation of Nigerians to ensure he succeeds in the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu to end oil theft in the country.
He said: “While it’s almost a waste of resources and man-hours to join issues with merchants of falsehood and deceit, we are constrained by our mandate of fostering peace, security and development in the society to set the records straight.
“Credible intelligence at our disposal has it that a cartel of notorious crude oil thieves whose illicit business has been grounded by the tight security and tactical effectiveness of the Nigerian Navy in the onslaught against oil bunkering in the Niger Delta has enlisted the services of some unpatriotic elements to launch a smear campaign against Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
“The game plan involves sponsoring vicious media attacks against the Chief of Naval Staff with the hope of pressuring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack him as he has been known to be a courageous and dedicated anti-corruption icon. The sheer callouses of this scheme is appalling but their bag of lies has burst open and Nigerians have already known it is just a matter of corruption fighting back.”
The renewed onslaught against oil thieves operating within the Niger Delta creeks and other parts of the country has taken a dramatic twist in recent times with security agencies and other active collaborators gaining the upper hand and battle-ready to dislodge the hitherto feisty marauders and their accomplices, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf
Nigeria with the capacity to produce 1.249million barrels of oil per day is unarguably the major oil producer in Africa, surpassing Libya and Angola.
But sadly, a cursory view of the grim statistics of the economic cost of oil theft especially on the nation’s treasury will leave a sore taste in the mouth judging by the hefty sums being frittered away albeit by those identified as economic saboteurs.
Speaking at a public forum in Abuja last November, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary of NEITI painted the grim picture of the country’s oil and gas infrastructure and proffered a commensurate solution to the country’s extractive industry.
In a keynote address tagged ‘Pipeline security, oil theft and the implications for economic growth’ at the Nigeria International Pipeline and security conference, he said NEITI’s exposure to information and data that speak clearly to the facts that strengthening security around oil and gas pipelines was key to the ongoing search for solutions to crude oil theft.
As a member of the Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft and Losses, NEITI said it was able to figure out that oil theft is perpetrated mainly through pipeline clamping, Illegal Connections (ICs) on major pipelines, exploitation of abandoned oil wellheads, pipeline breakages and vandalism of key national assets to illegally siphoning of crude into waiting vessels stationed in strategic terminals.
“This criminal exploits take place most times in an atmosphere of communities’ complicity and conspiracy of silence,” Dr. Orji said.
Empirical data made available by NEITI indicates that oil theft and losses in Nigeria between 2009 and 2020 stands at 619.7million barrels of crude which is valued at S$46.16billion or N16.25 trillion.
In addition, Nigeria lost 4.2 billion litres of petroleum products from refineries, valued at US$1.84 billion at the rate of 140, 000 barrels per day, from 2009 to 2018.
“The total value of crude losses between 2009 and 2020 is higher than the size of the country’s foreign reserves and almost ten times Nigeria’s oil savings in Excess Crude Account”, the report clarifies.
NEITI also disclosed that in the last five years, 2017 to 2021, Nigeria recorded 7,143 cases of pipeline breakages and deliberate vandalisation resulting in crude theft and product losses of 208.639 million barrels valued at $12.74 million or N4.325 trillion. The reports further revealed that during the same period, Nigeria spent N471. 493 billion to either repair or maintain pipelines.
This presupposes that the economy cannot grow in an atmosphere of oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and general insecurity in the oil producing communities.
To salvage this unfortunate scenario therefore, NEITI recommended among others; reconstitution of the Presidential Steering Committee on Implementation of the Petrol Industry Act with Industry Experts and key relevant agencies as members, Tackling Oil theft, Crude losses and Pipeline Vandalisation.
It also recommended developing a Gas Utilisation Policy with Linkages to Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, Fast-tracking the repairs of government-owned refineries with adequate measures to secure the pipelines and the business environs for easy access, product delivery and evacuation.
Orji noted that from NEITI’s 2021 Oil and Gas Industry report released in September 2023, the sector accounted for 72.26% of Nigeria’s total export and government’s foreign exchange, 40.55% of government revenue, and provided 19,171 jobs.
Renewed onslaught against oil theft yielding fruits
Interestingly, it does appear that the authorities are no longer at ease with the oil thieves and their criminal gangs who have been robbing the country blind.
This is self-evidence in the renewed onslaught against these oil thieves by the combined efforts of the law enforcement agencies and other security personnel who have continued to deploy their arsenals with all the firepower and force they can pull together.
The Nation can authoritatively report that the federal government may be winning the war against oil thieves with many of them in the dragnet of law enforcement agencies.
Independent investigation carried out by The Nation revealed that many of the black spots hitherto thriving with activities of these oil thieves have been destroyed.
In 2023 alone, a manhunt by the security forces quashed the activities of many illegal oil refiners across the country.
According to available information, from January and December 2023, the Nigeria Navy destroyed 703 illegal refining sites and arrested 23 seagoing vessels in furtherance of its fight against crude oil theft in the country.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla who confirmed this development, further revealed that the Navy also arrested 5 barges, 690 Cotonou boats laden with stolen crude oil, and 116 speed boats, while 232 suspects engaged in crude oil theft were nabbed.
Vice Admiral Ogalla made this known at a meeting with principal staff officers, flag officers commanding, and operational commanders at Naval headquarters added that the Navy recovered 803,353.20 bbls of crude oil, amounting to about N105 billion at the current market value.
During the period, 82 vehicles and trucks were also arrested.
He said, “Among the vessels arrested were MT Marine Express, MT Cecilia, MT Ufuoma, MT Vigor I, MV Barge Ayeba Eneni, FT Lamul, and MT Vinnalaris I Lagos, among others.
“Arising from these, 46, 369, 219 litres of AGO, 2, 472, 200 litres of DPK, and 438, 886 litres of PMS were recovered.
“Similarly, the NN recovered 803, 353.20 bbls of crude oil. At current market values, the seizures amounted to about one hundred and five billion naira.”
Kyari’s paradigm shift to tackle oil theft
For Mele Kyari, the Group Executive Officer at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, there is a need for a paradigm shift over the war on oil theft.
Speaking as a Guest Lecturer last Thursday, during the 2024 Faculty Lecture titled, “Energy Security, Sustainability and Profitability in Nigeria; Advances, Challenges and Opportunities,” organised by the Faculty of Science of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Kyari, who calls the shots at the at the nation’s oil behemoth, identified energy conservation, diversification, and efficiency measures as major avenues for enhancing energy security.
The NNPC, he said, is in the forefront of ongoing efforts to boost the country’s energy diversification initiative having equally identified the major challenges hindering energy security in Nigeria.
Speaking specifically on the challenges posed by pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, the GCEO observed that the issues have impacted NNPC Ltd.’s operations, stressing that, the establishment of a command-and-control centre has aided the detection and destruction of illegal refinery sites, removal of illegal connections, thereby addressing vandalism across operating corridors since 2021.
“The centre provides live streaming of surveillance data to security forces, contributing to the detection and destruction of over 5,686 Illegal Refinery (IR) sites and the removal of 4,480 Illegal Connections (ICs) from 2021 to the present,” the GCEO added.
While describing oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta region as a calamity.
He said, “The situation we have in Niger Delta in terms of security is a calamity. We don’t have that anywhere in the world. To engage non-state actors as a last resort is abnormal. But we have to respond abnormally.
“You have over 4,800 illegal connections on our pipelines. That means, within every kilometer, you have an insertion. Even if you seal all the insertions, you can’t get what you want in terms of production.
“In the Niger Delta, people are coming from all parts of the country to do illegal refining. That’s why we engage locals to deal with it.
“We will contain this challenge. We are doing everything possible to restore sanity. What is happening is a colossal damage to the environment and the host communities.”
While acknowledging the severity of vandalism and oil theft, Kyari hinted at a strategic shift, focusing on increased products trucking and storage in underground tankages at NNPC filling stations nationwide.
He highlighted NNPC Ltd.’s expanded retail assets, making it the largest single downstream company in sub-Saharan Africa after acquiring OVH retail stations and associated downstream infrastructure in 2021.
Kyari therefore called for collaboration between the academia and the Oil & Gas Industry towards addressing the challenges of energy sufficiency and sustainability.
He also highlighted the important role academic communities, such as the prestigious OAU, play in safeguarding national energy security through research and collaboration with the industry.
Enter Tompolo’s men
Peeved by the lingering menace of oil theft, illegal bunkering in oil-producing communities mainly in South-south Nigeria, and its negative impact on the country’s economy have been a source of concern to the Nigerian government over the years, the government under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had, in August 2022, awarded a pipeline surveillance contract Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSL) reportedly worth N48 billion per year (N4 billion per month) operated by a former militant commander in the Niger Delta, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, to check massive oil theft in the region.
Investigation revealed that since the advent of Tompolo and his gang, the spate of oil theft has reduced even if markedly as the security forces have been on the tail of the oil thieves.
For instance, a fortnight ago, MT KALI, an ocean-going vessel was apprehended by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) in collaboration with men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bayelsa State.
At the vessel’s parade, held at Oporoza in Warri Southwest council area of Delta State, Captain David Adeboye confirmed that 119 tonnes of stolen crude oil were loaded into the ship when the joint team of operatives raided the crime scene.
He claimed that they were directed by one Captain Niyi to lift Automated Gas Oil (AGO) otherwise known as (Diesel), not crude oil.
Adeboye said he was instructed to test run the vessel which had been anchored for over a year and had some maintenance carried out on her before the sail to Bayelsa State.
He said: “When we set out from Lagos State, the boat had been in Lagos for more than a year. They were doing some maintenance on it. So when we came out, we were instructed to test run the engine for like 10 miles. After 10 miles and we are satisfied that she can go as far as Bayelsa, then we should let them know”.
Adeboye stated that after successfully test-running the ship, he and the crew were directed to sail to Bayelsa State and return to Lagos State with AGO (Diesel), adding “That was the instruction given to us”.
However, on anchoring the vessel in Bayelsa State, contrary to the original plan of taking delivery of AGO, as also confirmed by the local agent he spoke with, crude oil was delivered instead.
He did not name the owners or agents of the vessel or the address of the contractors but insisted that it is only the management that could confirm why the supposed AGO turned out to be crude oil.
“So at which point it now turned to crude that is what I am still battling with up till now. Currently, we have 119 tonnes of crude oil on board the vessel. The agent brought his boys and at the end of the day filled the vessel with crude”, the captain said.
Speaking on the development, TSSNL Director of Operations and Technical, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, said the vessel, a crew of 12 members and some local accomplices were intercepted at about 12:25 am Thursday, stealing crude oil from one of the several platforms at Pennington Oil Field, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State.
He stated that both human and technical intelligence were deployed to track the vessel over time, before her eventual impoundment.
He further disclosed that the vessel had been involved in illegal oil thefts in the past.
Enisuoh opined that those campaigning against the involvement of private security companies in pipeline surveillance were bunkerers whose illegal activities were disrupted by their engagement and operations.
“We want to seize this opportunity to let Nigerians know that those who campaign against the private security companies participating in this fight are bunkerers.
“They can continue but we will not relent, we will not resist our efforts towards fighting this. We will continue to be resilient and we will assist the country in resolving this. We will also assist the Nigerian security forces, which are happy to participate in securing our assets to do this job,” he assured.
Thumbs up for Tompolo
Expectedly, the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, regional body of South-South, and other stakeholders of the Niger-Delta, have commended Tompolo and his team for the patriotic zeal it has displaced in the course of performing its duties of securing the nation’s oil platforms.
The National Publicity Secretary, PANDEF, Hon Ken Robinson who spoke with newsmen recently in Port Harcourt, applauded Tompolo and his boys for doing a good job.
“The point to note particularly is that indigenous to the community, they know the terrain, they know the nooks and crannies of the creeks, and forests, so they can do a better job as evidenced now.”
Also, President Ijaw Professionals Association, IPA, (Homeland Chapter comprising Bayelsa, Delta & Rivers) and a chieftain of Embasara Foundation, an Ijaw think-tank for good governance, Barrister Iniruo Wills observed that the sensation and momentary relief that greeted the ‘revelation’ of the grand oil theft infrastructure by private security services are justifiable, adding that it is clear even to the dead that as shocking as what they have uncovered is, it is still merely one small tip of the iceberg.
In the view of the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade, CHURAC, Mr. Cleric Alaowei, the oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tompolo’s company, TSSNL, by NNPCL has saved the nation’s petrodollar economy.
“From the heart-wrenching manifestations of how the operatives of the private security broke into the criminal syndicates, across the Niger Delta region, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo has put no Nigerian in doubt that he has the country at heart.
“The oil pipeline contracts awarded to other private security firms since 2016 with no tangible results. The cartels in the illegal bunkering activities are so powerful that even previous governments were afraid to fight the menace. President Buhari just took the bull by the horn to engage Tompolo to fight this hydra-headed monster.
“We know it will not be easy for the ex-freedom fighter as the cabals will definitely fight back with devastating mayhem. God in His infinite mercy will guide and protect him. We heard that some criminal elements have attacked the operatives of TSSNL.
“Nigerians can now attest that the menace of crude oil theft has declined to the barest minimum, if not completely eradicated in the Niger Delta region, especially in Tompolo’s areas of operation, within a few months of taking up the job.”
Lawmakers to the rescue
Miffed by the rapidity of the occurrence of oil thefts in the country, lawmakers at the lower chamber of the National Assembly have since set machinery in motion to address the drift.
A special committee on oil theft was established by the House of Representatives recently in an effort to combat one of the risks to the country’s economy.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, stated during a ceremony in Abuja that theft, vandalism, and other criminal activity were responsible for the estimated 300,000 barrels of crude oil lost daily in the nation.
The lawmakers claimed that the development has had a significant negative impact on the country, including lost revenue, environmental disasters, risks to regional peace and security, the proliferation of weapons, and an unfavourable investment climate.
The Speaker who lamented that the nation is incurring losses of oil revenues estimated at N1.29 trillion annually due to industrial-scale theft, explained that the committee’s primary objective was to determine the proximate and remote causes of oil theft and recommend remedial measures to the parliament.
Abbas said, “We set up this special committee to underscore our unwavering commitment to protect the nation’s resources for the good of all our citizens and to punish the perpetrators of these dreadful crimes.
“I charge you, therefore, to investigate all dimensions of oil theft, focusing on the actions of all actors, including criminal gangs, militia groups, the local populace, company employees and security agencies.
“I urge the committee members to approach your mandate with diligence, objectivity, a sense of urgency, and patriotism.
“The findings and recommendations from your work will also serve as a foundation for sustainable solutions rather than ad hoc measures.
“I also expect your efforts to contribute significantly to enhancing the integrity of our oil sector and promoting sustainable development.
“I call upon all stakeholders, including government agencies, industry players, security agencies, civil society organisations, and the general public, to extend their full cooperation to this special committee for it to deliver on its mandate,” he said.
More synergy of cooperation against oil theft
Investigation by The Nation revealed that interested stakeholders have sought for more synergy of cooperation to stem the tide of oil theft in the Niger Delta creeks and other parts of the country.
One of such efforts is the cooperation being forged by the Executive Chairman Board of Trustees of Community Development Committees (CDC) of Niger Delta Oil and Gas Producing Areas, Joseph Ambakaderimo with NEITI to carry out sensitisation advocacy to the oil bearing communities.
As a co-organiser of the just concluded Nigerian International Pipelines Technology and Security conference, CDC said collaboration with NEITI to carry out advocacy involving the oil producing communities in a town hall format for the purposes of enlightenment on the dangers of environmental impact and the effect of oil theft on the economic wellbeing of the country and its citizens, would go a long way to salvage the country.
According to Ambakaderimo, community involvement in oil theft is due to long abandonment of the communities over the years by all of the agencies of government like the NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta Development and others.
“There have been overtime mismanaged resources that hitherto would have been deployed to the development of these communities. Therefore we must hold all of these agencies to account for the resources that have accrued to them and hold them responsible for oil theft in the region,” he recommended.
“In addition, the CDC is calling on the government to also collaborate with it and provide all necessary support to the CDC to enable our members to take control of the security of the oil and gas pipelines crisscrossing our communities rather than this humongous expenditure to other entities that has not provided any success.”
He said that CDC is very well positioned in every community that produces oil and gas in the Niger Delta region with a mandate to develop and provide security to their communities.
“Government would find it difficult to provide basic amenities that will shore up the living standard of the people if this worrisome trend of Oil theft is not curbed. The communities must be made to understand that they cannot be part of a system that will deprive them from developing their areas. Therefore it is imperative that we must embark on this advocacy journey with the CDC taking the lead.”
Ambakaderimo disclosed that the same collaboration is already taking place with the House Committee on Upstream and the special House committee on Oil theft and security chairman Honourable Alhassan Doguwa, who represented the Honourable Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Tajudeen Abbas at the conference.
More firepower to fight oil theft
It may be recalled that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle had on Friday, January 5, presented two Hi-Tech unmanned water vessels to President Bola Tinubu.
The two unmanned ships were donated by Swift Ship Company in the United States to the Nigerian government.
The Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike made this disclosure in a statement.
He said the ships, S2 and S3 Swift Sea Stalkers, are to help in the fight against insecurity on our waterways.
According to the statement, Matawalle told President Tinubu, while presenting the two versions of the equipment at the Presidential Villa Abuja, that the equipment were the latest technologies that would be deployed in fighting insecurity in Niger Delta, Lake Chad region and other maritime regions of the country.
The statement said: “The Minister said that the donation of the equipment was part of the gains of his recent working visit to the United States.
“Matawalle informed the President that the tour was aimed at promoting innovative technologies that would enhance the Nigerian military’s efficiency in addressing contemporary security challenges.
“In addition the Minister said that the idea was to encourage partnership with the US companies in the production of Military hardware locally in Nigeria in collaboration with Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
“He said that the new found partnership would afford Nigeria the opportunity to learn the innovative ways of Military hardware production which is in line with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Agenda in bringing peace and security to our dear nation.
“The Minister briefed the President that part of the facilities he inspected while in the US included rapid deployment mobile RADAR system, unmanned water vehicle, drone ground control station, and compact biometric search-scan system, among others.”
The statement said that the minister reassured the President that the cutting-edge military and intelligence hardware capabilities presented to him would go a long way in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria.
In the view of many observers who have been watching with keen interest the renewed wave of onslaught against these oil thieves, it is indeed reassuring that concerted efforts being made by all concerned stakeholders is yielding the necessary dividence and needs to be encouraged to continue with the current tempo of aggressive bombardment of the oil thieves criminal existence.
NNPCL, security: we won’t relent in battle against criminals
Oil thieves are unrelenting in their desperation to remain in their illegal business. They now install Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) to monitor security operatives, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) claimed yesterday.
The revelation is contained in a report tagged: “War on crude oil theft in October.”
The report said the NNPCL uncovered a bunkering site in Osuobodo between two ANTAN flow stations, South of Oguta naval base in Imo State.
“Far from the regular, these criminals have taken their activities a notch higher. In this camp, CCTV cameras have been installed on trees by the thieves to look out for security operatives,” the NNPCL said in a statement.
The NNPCL said the thieves mounted mortar launchers and defence systems in various locations to kill any perceived foes.
According to the NNPCL, the discovery was made possible after an invasion by the military following information gathered by an air surveillance carried out by Target Energy, Tantita Security Services, Operation Delta Safe and the military in August.
The company said that across the Niger Delta, the war on crude oil theft is on and the industry-wide security collaboration continues to record remarkable progress.
In the past week, according to the report, 149 incidences were recorded across the Niger Delta.
It has become warfare of sorts in some areas, the company noted.
The report reads: ”It’s a well-orchestrated mission. The thieves are determined to live here and trade their stolen crude.
“A lack of electricity is no excuse. Generators are on standby to keep the camp’s operations afloat. Drums of crude oil feeding from an illegal connection, bags used for storing crude and more were discovered in the camp.
“Between the 14th to 20th of October, 49 illegal connections were uncovered in Udu and Ogharefe in Delta State, Ohaji Egbema in Imo, Brass in Bayelsa and in Rivers State.
“At this spot in Rivers State, oil thieves drilled a tunnel underneath the tarred road to insert their illegal connection. The aim is to operate undetected. This was planned and carried out by an expert, using a horizontal directional drilling machine.
“Sixteen cases of pipeline vandalism were recorded this week in Azuzu in Bayelsa state and Obodo Omadina & Ogidigbein in Delta state where a well head was vandalised.
“In Ozuaku in Abia state, a vandalised pipeline is being repaired.
“Ten facilities used for storing stolen crude were uncovered in various locations in the Niger Delta in the past week. In Ekpemu, Delta state, an interesting discovery was made.
“Track more storage facilities were discovered in Ogborode, Ugborodo and Kwale in Delta State, Tomble and Emuoha in Rivers state and Yenagoa in Bayelsa state.
“In Ozoro, Umuosonwu and Patani in Delta state, vehicles conveying sacks of crude oil, were arrested and their content confiscated. Five vehicle arrests were made between the 14th and 20th of October. Eighteen wooden boats conveying stolen crude were also apprehended this week in Rivers, Delta and Imo states.”
“Nine of these incidents took place in the deep blue water, 23 in the Western region, 67 in the Central region and 50 in Nigeria’s Eastern Region.
“For NNPC limited, there is no backing down on the war on crude oil theft, until the menace is eradicated for good.”
Amaechi, Wike make counter-claims as navy conquers militant oil thieves
Residents of Rivers State in the Niger Delta are heaving a sigh of relief over the hazardous soot which for years has caused the death of many people and held others down with various forms of diseases. Worried by the menace, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari took drastic The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, was also unhappy with the situation, which was the result of illegal oil bunkering and refining of crude oil in the Niger Delta region, particularly in Rivers State. He declared zero tolerance for soot.
Taking up the challenge, the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Rumuorlumeni, Port Harcourt, Commodore Sam Bura, had deployed soot hunters made up of naval personnel in the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, to stamp out the menace by apprehending criminals involved in oil theft and illegal refining defiling the atmosphere. They were also charged with the responsibility of locating illegal bunkering/refining sites in the creeks of Rivers State while also detecting items meant for illegal refining and confiscating them.
Residents of Rivers State had in the last three years been battling with the deadly soot to no avail until the intervention and change of strategy by NNS Pathfinder, particularly in the last three months.
In the heady days of the soot menace in the state, cars parked outside were covered with black particles by daybreak. Household items were messed up by soot while merely inserting a white handkerchief in the nostrils revealed the penetration of black particles/substances, which health experts say can cause cancer and respiratory diseases, among other ailments.
Security personnel were initially burning down illegal refining sites, the equipment, refined products and stolen crude oil. But that approach was also polluting the environment, prompting the navy to opt for the use of swamp buggies, which have put an end to the pollution while the criminals responsible for it were sent out of business.
In the era when illegal refining sites were burnt, the criminals would either return to the same sites or relocate to other parts of the creek after a few weeks, making use of the relics of the burnt items. But swamp buggies proved to be more effective in tackling the menace.
Amaechi, Wike make counter-claims
The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, had said for the eight years that he reigned as the governor of Rivers State, there was nothing like soot in the state because his administration dislodged the illegal oil bunkerers involved in illegal refining. He accused his successor and current governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, returned the criminals to the state.
Amaechi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), also alleged that the criminals were used by Wike to rig the 2015 elections, but the guns given to them were not retrieved, aiding their return to crime to survive, with deadly soot as the result.
But Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urged discerning minds not to take seriously the allegations levelled against him by his former boss (Amaechi), saying that his administration bought many gunboats for the navy to frontally tackle criminal activities on the state’s waterways, while also supporting other security agencies.
The Rivers State governor stressed that the battle against soot was also being fought by his government, but with different approaches like preventing the burning of tyres, campaigning against burning of seized tankers, crude oil and illegally-refined products, as well as empowering the youth as a way of discouraging them from going into illegal activities.
Crude oil stolen by armed illegal bunkerers are refined illegally in the creeks to produce diesel, petrol and kerosene, all fondly called Kpo-fire. The products have been damaging vehicle engines while the explosion resulting from the use of their kerosene has led to deaths and injuries.
The making of illegal refineries
Setting up an illegal refining site is very expensive. Pipes, tanks, drums and other items must be purchased while experts are needed to couple them and build boats, particularly big Cotonou boats which can convey many drums of crude oil or illegally-refined products. Speed boats are also needed for easy movement.
It was learnt that heat from illegal refining could kill while a little mistake made by the illegal refiners and their “boys” could lead to instant death, in spite of the free money they get from stolen crude oil.
With their illegal refining sites destroyed with swamp buggies, the scraps of their equipment are now being sold in order to minimise their losses.
A visit to one of the destroyed oil refining sites in the creek of Bolo, the headquarters of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State via a naval gunboat revealed the huge damage done to the environment by pollution resulting from the activities of economic saboteurs.
Regular speedboats not accompanied by security personnel would easily be overrun by illegal bunkerers/refiners. But they fear the 12.7 mm bullets from the naval gunboat which could easily tear a human being into pieces.
The high-calibre weapons of the gunboat would not respect the amulets won by criminals, and they would quickly surrender when caught in illegal refining, crude oil theft/illegal bunkering and sea piracy, with the military’s weapons being regularly upgraded.
With the criminals also aware that bullets from naval gunboat can bring down aircraft, they dare not run when caught in action in spite of being always fully armed.
Travelling by water is hazardous, because besides being attacked by criminals who would dispossess travellers of their valuables and money, the expensive engines of their boat could also be removed and taken away by sea pirates, leaving the boat driver and his passengers to struggle with paddle until they get help. Some of the passengers may be kidnapped while the ladies among them could be raped right inside the boat.
Feeling the people’s pulse
To feel the pulse of the dwellers of the coastal communities affected by soot from illegal refineries, our reporter moved into Bolo community after leaving the illegal refining site near the ancient community.
Surprisingly, many of the youthful respondents in the community admitted to being involved in illegal refining and crude oil theft but decided to quit in view of the losses caused by the frequent destruction of their expensive equipment and other materials by navy’s swamp buggies.
An indigene of Bolo, Mr. Tubonemi Nyengibi, who fearlessly admitted to being involved in illegal refining, said: “In the days of illegal bunkering/refining, before the destruction of the equipment by naval personnel, we faced many health challenges. Then, between 6 pm and 7 am, it was always difficult to open windows, because of the dangerous soot which would make the nostrils and household items to turn black.
“It was impossible then to spread white clothes outside till daybreak as they would turn black. Illegal bunkering and illegal refining are not good. The people, especially the youths, should desist from getting involved, as they are against Nigerian laws. Before now, I was involved, but I am no longer taking part. I later decided to go to school to become a better person.”
Another indigene of Bolo, Tamuno-Okwein Godwin, corroborated Nyengibi, saying that using the swamp buggies was the most effective method of sending the criminals out of business and putting an end to the pollution of the environment, thereby improving the health of the inhabitants of the various communities.
The Crown Prince of Bolo, Tamunotonye Abolo, urged the Federal Government to assist members of the community, especially the well-educated youths who are jobless and opted for illegal refining to survive despite knowing that it was hazardous to their health and would destroy their sources of livelihood, especially fishing.
Abolo added that the youths must be employed, adequately empowered and given scholarship in order to stop getting involved in illegal refining and illegal bunkering.
A resident of one of the riverine communities in Rivers State, Agbede Oloye, admitted that he and others were involved in illegal bunkering and refining in order to help themselves. But he said in the last three months, patrolling naval personnel had made it impossible for them to operate, especially using swamp buggies to destroy their equipment and other items at the sites.
Oloye said: “In view of the destruction of our illegal refining sites by naval personnel, we are now at home doing nothing. I must admit that if it was in the days of illegal refining, I cannot wear this white T-shirt because of soot, as it would have turned black and the river would have been stained because of pollution from crude oil.
“Without anything to feed on, we are now selling to Hausa people the scraps of the oven, pipes and other equipment from the destruction of illegal equipment carried out by naval personnel. We are also selling our speed boats. Illegal bunkering is now difficult to do in Rivers State these days. Federal Government should assist us.”
For about two months, personnel of NNS Pathfinder were involved in day and night operations across the 23 LGAs of Rivers state to destroy the illegal refining sites with swamp buggies.
NNS Pathfinder’s Executive Officer, Captain Victor Choji, admitted that the biggest concerns in Rivers State lately were illegal refining of stolen crude oil and the resultant soot.
He noted that the soot affected everybody, adding that the proactive soot hunters put in place by NNS Pathfinder were already producing results through regular patrols and expansion of intelligence network to identify where materials for illegal refining were being purchased.
Choji said: “Illegal refining is central to other criminal activities like illegal bunkering, sea piracy, cultism and armed robbery, because money from illegal refining is mostly used to buy speed boats, arms and ammunition for sea piracy and armed robbery. Once illegal refining is stopped with the use of swamp buggies, soot will end and other criminal activities will be curtailed.
“The ingenuity and intellect of the illegal refiners can be utilised for legitimate businesses or activities. Every human being has the option of doing the right or wrong thing. Government cannot provide everything for everybody.
“Persons who are involved in illegal activities are either lazy or greedy and want free money. Nigeria is so blessed that there are many legitimate things that hardworking people can do, thereby positively contributing to societal development. People, especially the youth, must look inward. There is no excuse for getting involved in criminal activities.”
A coalition of peace advocacy groups yesterday said oil thieves and pipeline vandals were behind the ongoing protests against the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS) and its Commander, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi.
The coalition under the auspices of the Niger Delta Peace and Development (NDPD) said it would soon identify the suspected oil thieves behind the Abuja protest.
The coalition insisted that the protesters were misrepresenting the existing peace and laudable performances of JTF in the region.
The group in a statement signed by its Chairman, James Julius, said oil thieves were using the protest to fight back and make the JTF lose its focus.
Julius urged the people and military authorities to disregard the protests and lauded the JTF for restoring, sustaining peace and reducing criminality in the region.
He called on security agencies to investigate persons, who led the protest adding that Apochi-led JTF reduced attacks on pipelines to its barest minimum.
He said: “The existing peace in the region was due to the efforts of the military. The activities of JTF brought the recent renewed agitation and attacks on oil infrastructure under control.
“The present Commander of JTF, Rear-Admr, Suleman has been achieving results and has proved to be a round peg in a round hole; his deployment at a time there was renewed restiveness was apt and strategic..
“The military high command got it right and Suleiman, being an operational officer who spends most of his time in the creeks, has brought his naval tactics to check militancy. For eight months, there has been no reported incident in the region”.
He appealed to the Niger Delta people to resist the temptation of becoming a tool of blackmail and accessory to oil theft.
He asked all stakeholders to support the peace moves of the Federal Government aimed at repositioning the region as the oil and gas hub of the nation, noting that insecurity scared investors.
According to the group, there is need to launder the image of the Niger Delta region and change the perception of international investors that fled the region as a result of militancy.
Julius said: “Under his (Apochi) watch the Operation Delta Safe has uncovered an illegal arms manufacturing factory in Arhavwarien , Ughelli area of Delta State and recovered assorted weapons which including 28 guns, cartridges and military equipment.
“This was following an intelligence report of an arms manufacturing gang in the area which was supplying deadly ammunition to cultists, pirates , militants, armed robbers , among other criminals.”
“We have to know that the future of the region is under the present administration, which has demonstrated the will to develop the Niger Delta.
“Our people who engage in armed struggle must see that we cannot achieve anything by violence; we need to lure investor who once operated here, that the investment climate is right for them to return.”
“Available data showed that since enhanced military operations began in the region in 2016, troops of the Operation Delta Safe, have recovered 1,389 heavy arms and 20,352 ammunitions”
“Additionally, the Force has seized 105 tanker trucks, 228 other vehicles and 610 pumping machines as well as 76 Generator sets and 5,842 other items used in facilitating illegalities.
“Suffice to state that part of the Force efforts to deny criminals any freedom of action involves the destruction of their safe havens and the items used in perpetrating illegalities”
Nigeria and 29 other countries have begun a multinational sea exercise tagged: OBANGAME EXPRESS, to sustain onslaught against piracy and other maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea (GOG),
Sponsored by the United States of America (USA) through its African partnership station, this year’s event will be concluded in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command (ENC) and Officer in Tactical Command (OTC), Rear Admiral James Oluwole, said three Nigerian Navy Ships (NNS), a helicopter and a French ship would navigate the nation’s waters during the exercise.
At a news briefing at Onne Port in Rivers State, Oluwole said NNS OKPABANA, NNS CENTENARY, NNS SAGBAMA and one navy helicopter would participate in the exercise.
According to him, Angola, Belgium, Benin Republic, Brazil, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Norway, Mauritania, Portugal, Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, South Africa, Togo, Turkey, The Netherlands and the USA would participate in the exercise.
Oluwole said: “Regional organisations, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) will also participate in the exercise.
“It is sponsored by U.S Africa Command and is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activities.
“The exercise will be conducted in phases within the territorial waters of the participating nations.
“The Nigerian phase of Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS will hold from March 24 to 28 within the nation’s waters. A French ship, JACOUBET, will sail into Nigerian waters from Cameroon. It will perform exercises with the NN platforms.”
In a bid to sustain the onslaught against piracy and other maritime threats in the Gulf of Guinea (GOG), Nigeria and 29 other nations Thursday commenced a multinational sea exercise, christened OBANGAME EXPRESS.
Sponsored by the United States of America (USA) through its African Partnership Station, this year’s OBANGAME EXPRESS would be concluded at Abidjan in Cote D’Ivoire.
According to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command (ENC) and Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) Rear Admiral James Oluwole three Nigerian Navy Ships (NNS), a helicopter and a French ship would navigate the nation’s waters in the course of the exercise.
At a press briefing held at Onne Port in Rivers State, Oluwole said NNS OKPABANA, NNS CENTENARY, NNS SAGBAMA and one navy helicopter would participate in the exercise.
According to him, Angola, Belgium, Benin Republic, Brazil, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Norway, Mauritania, Portugal, Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, South Africa, Togo, Turkey, The Netherlands and the USA would participate in the exercise.
Oluwole said: “Regional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) would also participate in the exercise.
“The exercise is sponsored by U.S Africa Command and is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of Gulf of Guinea and West African nations to counter sea-based illicit activities.
“The Exercise would be conducted in phases within the territorial waters of the participating nations.
“The Nigerian phase of Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS would hold from March 24 to 28 within the nation’s waters. A French ship, JACOUBET will sail into Nigerian waters from Cameroon. It will perform several exercises with the NN platforms as will be presented by the exercise scenario.
“The purpose for the exercise is to create realistic scenarios that reflect past piracy incidents whereby a hijacked vessel will transit from one territory to another. Maritime Operations Centres (MOCs) during the Exercise will be challenged to recognise these illicit acts appropriately and share with other MOCs.
“Additionally, the Exercise will test each maritime force to patrol their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and detect, prosecute illegal activities accordingly.”
…Destroy 4,000 metric tons of crude, illegally refined diesel
No fewer than nine suspected oil thieves and operators of illegal crude oil refining camps have been arrested in the last one week as the Nigerian Navy embarked on Operation Water Sweet II in Delta state.
Briefing journalists on the outcome of the operation at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta base in Warri, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Central Naval Command (CNC), Real Admiral Mohammed Garba, said not less than 42 illegal refining camps, about 3,000 metric tons of suspected stolen crude oil and 1,000 metric tons of illegally refined diesel oil, were destroyed during the operation.
Garba, who pointed out that the decision to activate the operation followed the observation that illegal refining and militant camps were reappearing in parts of the command’s area of responsibility, added that his men destroyed 40 Cotonou boats, loaded with stolen crude, just as they recovered 9 speedboats and 14 pumping machines during the operation.
The naval chief, who was accompanied by the outgoing Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Joseph Dzunve and his successor, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, and other officers from the CNC headquarters and the NNS Delta, said the operation would be continuous so that the criminal activities could be kept at bay.
“Although NN efforts have significantly reduced the activities of criminal elements in this area, experiences from the recently conducted Ex Eagle Eye brought out the need to sustain operations against these criminal elements with more emphasis on illegal bunkering, crude oil theft and operation of illegal refineries.
“Today I am pleased to announce that after a week of persistent crackdown on the operators of these illegalities, own team so far discovered and destroyed a total of 42 illegal refining camps. Accordingly, about 3,000 MT of suspected stolen crude oil and 1,000MT of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO were destroyed in the operation, in line with extant regulations.
“Also, 40 Cotonou boats, laden with suspected stolen crude, were set ablaze. Furthermore, a total of 9 speedboats and 14 pumping machines were recovered from the operation.
“The operation also led to several arrests, including 3 high profile members of the criminals involved in pipeline vandalism. Some have been interrogated and handed over to the DIA, NPF and DSS, as appropriate, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
“It is pertinent to mention that the operation is still ongoing in that it has been discovered that the illegal refineries, after being destroyed, the criminal gangs always reactivate them”, Garba said.
The Bayelsa State commands of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Air Force, Wednesday, formed an alliance against pipeline vandals, oil thieves, kidnappers and other related crimes in the state.
The Air Officer, Commanding, Mobility Command, Air Vice Marshal Emmanuel Agungu, and the state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, met at the corps’ command base Yenagoa, the state capital, and agreed to form a synergy in crime fighting.
Agungu who was newly posted to the state visited his counterpart in the company of air officers demanding partnership to effectively combat oil thieves, vandals and kidnappers.
Receiving his guests in company with other senior NSCDC officers, Agu said all the security agencies were established in the state by the Federal Government with a singular objective of maintaining law and order.
He said when security agencies work in unison, they will fulfill the purpose of their mission and make the government, their paymaster happy.
He told Agungu that the major criminal activities in the region are kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries and oil theft.
He said the corps under his command had so far destroyed over 3000 illegal refineries in many local government areas of the state.
Condemning activities of vandals, he said the corps was fighting against them because of their negative impact on the environment adding that farms, rivers and natural habitat had been destroyed by vandals.
“Illegal refineries are killing the region. Many people are involved in it. But we are not relating because we have so far destroyed over 3000 of such refineries. We are also combating pipeline vandalism and kidnapping.
“We are fighting vigorously against these vices because of their impact mainly on the environment. When pipelines are destroyed, crude oil spills into the environment destroying farms, water sources and aquatic lives. So, the people no longer catch fish”, he said.
He maintained that forging a synergy would help the security agencies to form a common front against the vices.
Agu also acknowledged that in their partnership, there could be inter-agency conflicts arising from misunderstanding among the other ranks.
“I have alley told my operatives to avoid conflict with other sister agencies. We are one and we must work as a team”, he said promising to provide necessary assistance to the Air Force.
Earlier in his remarks, Agungu said the NSCDC under Agu was doing its best in the state to protect the country’s resources.
He said: We need to work together to achieve results. It will be difficult if we don’t work as a team. We are always available because we need to always interact,” he said.
SIR: In Nigeria, we wake up daily to read about problems upon problems. We are daily inundated with jaw-dropping, bizarre and messy stories of how some beasts in human form visit mindless terror on their fellow beings as well as their nation. Nigeria has literarily become a theatre of some sort where tragic plays are staged every other day before the world. It does appear we appreciate and fancy the fact that the world sees us as a bunch of unserious, hopeless and directionless people destined to fail.
We all woke up last week to be regaled with stories of how some criminals who hide under the banner of Niger Delta struggle as agitators blew up oil facilities owned by oil multi-national company, Chevron in Warri North in Delta State. This attack, according to media reports, has forced Chevron to halt is operations within the oil-rich region. So far, a criminal gang known as the Niger Delta Avengers has claimed responsibility for the attack.
For obvious reasons, planned or coordinated attacks on strategic national assets by individuals or criminal elements are both crimes against humanity and fatherland. It is a crime that shouldn’t be condoned by any right-thinking individual. People who perpetrate such heinous crimes shouldn’t be shielded by any sane human being. Blowing up oil facilities, out of which funds are sourced to address national challenges is akin to breaking into a hospital’s blood bank! It is sheer wickedness that shouldn’t be tolerated or rationalized for whatever reasons.
Sadly, pipelines have been callously vandalised. Oil workers have left their work stations. Nigeria has lost huge sums of petro-dollars. Large volume of crude oil lost. All these put together constitute both economic and social loses to government and Nigerians. Those behind this latest act of criminality should have a rethink on the dangerous path they are planning to walk. I need not remind any of them of the dire consequences of testing the might of the present administration.
If oil thieves who organised themselves under different amorphous criminal gangs collected huge sums to ‘appease aggrieved militants’ succeeded in the past, let me remind them that we have a new sheriff in town. It has ceased to be business as usual. Welcome to the era of business unusual.
That dark era is past where common criminals who should ordinarily be cooling their heels in detention centres were daily invited to Aso Rock and given huge sums. Many were awarded contracts to ‘secure’ our waterways and other strategic national assets. It was simply a case of asking a thief to go after thieves.
I prefer to call these criminals their real names; oil thieves. Aligning their nefarious act with a just campaign like the struggle for a better Niger Delta land is a ploy to play on the intelligence of the real victims of continuous oil exploration and exploitation in the region. They should be avoided and disgraced by the good people of the region. We have various avenues through which issues of injustice can be tabled for possible redress. Taking up arms or attacking strategic national assets is certainly not one of them.
Unfortunately, the Niger Delta elites who should ordinarily lead and champion the struggle for a better, cleaner, prosperous and safer region have allowed thugs, militants, criminals and undesirable elements to speak on their behalf.
It is about time well-meaning individuals in the region rose up to the challenge of evolving a credible, people-oriented and issue-based platform to highlight the region’s plights and challenges and call for urgent intervention. Genuine agitators should also draw a line between its members and criminal gangs like the thieves behind the Niger Delta Avengers group.
But Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urged discerning minds not to take seriously the allegations levelled against him by his former boss (Amaechi), saying that his administration bought many gunboats for the navy to frontally tackle criminal activities on the state’s waterways, while also supporting other security agencies.
