The Nation Newspaper

Tag: vandalised

  • Vandalised street lights for repair

    The Enugu State Rural Electrification Board (ESREB) has assured residents that vandalised street lights will be repaired soon.

    The General Manager, Simon Atigwe, attributed the malfunctioning of the facilities in some locations in Enugu Metropolis and Nsukka to “persistent vandalism by hoodlums”.

    A statement by Atigwe said: “The board is working to repair and rectify the anomalies to ensure effective operation of the street lights in a few days to serve the people better.”

    He appealed to the people to be patient and assist the government in protecting the facilities by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious movement around the facilities.

    Atigwe, who said the management team has recorded significant progress in restoring the affected facilities, reiterated the government’s commitment to provide functional street lights for the people’s benefit.

  • Scores injured, vehicles vandalised in police, Ondo poly students clash

    •Protester attack TVC cameraman

    Scores of residents of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State sustained injuries and 10 vehicles were vandalised yesterday, following a clash between the police and students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO).

    Trouble started when two students were allegedly hit by a van belonging to the police.

    The students accused the police of abandoning the victims.

    This forced the students to embark on a protest to the Police Station B Division at Otapete.

    But they were dispersed by the police, who tear-gassed and shot sporadically into the air.

    It was gathered that a student was accidentally hit by a bullet

    The policemen’s action angered the students, who allegedly destroyed vehicles parked inside the station.

    They later blocked the Owo/Akure expressway, which is opposite their school, thereby causing a gridlock.

    Residents of Owo were not spared in the unrest as they were prevented from moving out of the town.

    Witnesses said students where seen burning tyres at the main gate of their school, Fasawe and White House areas, which is mainly occupied by them.

    Three hours later, the police later brought in an armour tank to clear the main road of Owo town, which was blocked by the rampaging students.

    Police spokesman Mr. Femi Joseph alleged that the students attacked the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), who “is in a critical condition”.

    Joseph said the students also attacked the police officers, who were on duty when they stormed the station.

    He added that the students vandalised parked vehicles inside the station despite the DPO calling for calm.

    “The police vehicle that hit the students was not deliberate done and it was a total lie that the driver abandoned the students because he immediately took the victims to a hospital and they are currently receiving treatment,” he said.

    The Vice President (Affairs) of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Mr. Timileyin Ayenuro, called for the removal of the DPO.

    He accused the DPO of fueling the crisis, saying what the students were expecting from them was an apology over the matter since they did not know the state of their colleagues.

    He called for the release of the arrested students and warned the police to stop harassing students.

    But the protesting students were alleged to have attacked the cameraman of TVC News, Tunde Lawal and vandalised his camera.

    Lawal, who was covering the protest, was attacked by one of the aggrieved students. The view finder of the camera was damaged.

    The TVC cameraman was rescued by NANS’ vice president.

    Ayenuro, who was at the scene of the incident, called the students to order.

  • Troops take over sites of vandalised pipelines

    Troops take over sites of vandalised pipelines

    Troops of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have taken over the sites of vandalised pipelines in the creeks of Bayelsa State after a battle with militants.

    The state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said yesterday that the crack team from its command warded off the ambush laid by the militants to stop security operatives from getting there.

    He said after hot exchange of gunshots with the militants, the troops cleared the areas to give room for immediate clamping of the damaged pipelines.

    Armed militants had laid ambush after the Sunday’s bombing of pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and another oil firm, Aiteo in Nembe and Southern Ijaw local government areas of the state.

    But Agu, who spoke yesterday, said following the superior firearms of troops, the militants fled the scene by navigating the creeks.

    He said the operatives were following some leads to apprehend them.

    “We have secured the crime scene to give room for immediate clamping of the ruptured sections on the pipelines. For the fleeing militants, we will surely get them”, he said.

    But the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide yesterday, raised the alarm over military occupation of Oporoza, the Headquarters of Gbaramatu Clan in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    IYC in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said the town was still under military siege two days after the military invaded the community.

    Omare said: “As at the time of issuing this statement, no person is allowed to move in and out of Oporoza Community. Yesterday (Sunday) evening, a 40-horse-power speed boat which came to rescue residents in serious medical condition was seriously attacked by the military and the state of the persons that were inside the boat is still unknown.

    “The people of Oporoza are now in a state of famine and even those that were brutalized cannot get access to medical care. If urgent steps are not taken, there may be massive death arising from the famine and brutalization.

    “The IYC strongly condemn this display of brutalization of innocent residents of Oporoza Community.

    “The IYC, call on Nigerians and the international community to urgently prevail on President Buhari to order the military to vacate Oporoza for the residents to have access to medical care and foods in order to avoid a humanitarian crisis”.

    Also, the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) said it was mediating in the renewed attack on oil facilities in Niger Delta region and clashes between farmers and herdsmen in various parts of the country.

    The Vice-President, WAY, Mr. Preye Ketebu-Brown, said in Yenagoa that the world youth body would tour crises-ravaged spots in Nigeria as part of its mediation plan for conflict resolution.

  • Govt spends N100m to fix vandalised gas pipeline

    The Federal Government spends an average of  N100milion to fix a vandalised gas pipeline, a Senior Power Consultant, Nigerian Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NAIF), Dr Frank Edozie has said.

    He said the cost of fixing a gas pipeline could be much higher than N100 million depending on the extent of damage done to the pipeline. He said many gas pipelines have been broken in the country, especially in the Niger Delta region, adding that the government has spent billions of naira in maintaining them.

    Edozie while speaking on the topic ‘Deregulation: A key to Sustainable Development in Oil and Gas Sector’ at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, said each time a pipeline is ruptured or broken by unscrupulous people, the government spends a lot of money to fix it.

    He said over the years, gas pipelines have been vandalised with resultant effects on the power generating plants that use gas as a feedstock or critical production material, noting that huge amount of money that can be channeled into other projects was spent on the maintenance of the pipelines.

    He said: “Since the coming of the government of President Muhammad Buhari, the country has recorded few cases of pipeline vandalism and the situation has resulted in improvement in power generation that is currently over 4,500 megawatts (Mw).

    According to him, the country has witnessed increase in power generation and distribution since May 2015, adding the development is a good one for Nigeria that has been battling epileptic power supply for decades.

    Edozie said the industry is yet to attain the required electricity supply of 10,000Mw or more,  stressing that power will be stable once problems relating to destruction of gas pipelines and poor generation output are resolved.

    On gas price, he said any further increase in the price of gas from $2 or $3 per 1000 standard cubic feet (scf) depending on the buyers, would lead to increase in tariffs paid by electricity consumers.

    He explained that the cost of production of electricity by thermal plant is dependent on the cost of gas, which is a feedstock in the industry, among other variables.

    Edozie said power will improve remarkably once problems such as gas pipeline vandalism, and poor accessibility of the product (gas) by the turbines, are removed.

    The Managing Director, Frontier Oil Limited, Thomas Dada, said power generation has increased since May this year because there is an improvement gas infrastructure.

     

  • Total E&P to fix vandalised oil export pipeline

    Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPNL) has begun repairing its vandalised export pipeline in Rivers State.

    The company in a statement signed by its Deputy General Manager, Media & Public Affairs, Charles Ogan, said: “Following the oil spill reported at Kilometre 25 and 27 locations on our Obagi – Rumuekpe oil export pipeline, on August 16, 2015, a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV), in accordance with the extant regulations, was carried out on the oil spill locations, with relevant regulatory agencies including the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), NOSDRA, and Rivers State Ministry of Environment). The JIV team recorded that the oil spill incident was due to third-party interference (sabotage).

    “Total mobilised intervention teams to clamp the leaks on the pipeline. Relevant agencies and service providers were also mobilised and have deployed containment booms to contain the spill and prevent further spread.

    “TEPNG is committed to preventing further spread of the spill and to restore the environment. Total will continue to work with the relevant government authorities and communities, to ensure that this is achieved.

    “Further updates shall be provided in due course. Total E&P Nigeria operates oil mining lease (OML) 58 with a 40 per cent interest, alongside the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation with 60 per cent.”

    On August 17, this year, the company reported it had stopped the expedition of crude on its Obagi-Rumuekpe oil export pipeline, after observing an oil spill at Kilometre 25 and 27 locations and said relevant authorities were informed immediately.

  • Security operatives recover over five trucks of vandalised fuel in Lagos

    Security operatives recover over five trucks of vandalised fuel in Lagos

    •Arrests 50

    No fewer than five trucks loaded with petroleum products were recovered at vandals hideout in Majidun, Ikorodu an outskirts of the city at the weekend.

    The stolen petroleum products were recovered in a joint operation which comprised operatives of Nigerian Army, naval officials and Nigeria Security Service and Civil Defence Corps.

    It was gathered that the operatives also arrested 50 of the suspected vandals, arrested 100 canoes and 3,000 jerricans filled with fuel at their hideout.

    Sources said fear gripped residents when the armed security officials stormed the creeks around the community, impounding several ferries loaded with petroleum products.

    Most youths in the area fled the community in fear of being mistakenly arrested as vandals.

    The operation, which was still on as of 1pm yesterday, was said to have started at about 2am in the morning.

    A helicopter painted in the uniform usually worn by naval officers was sighted hovering around the area.

    The helicopter had travelled the waters in the area on Thursday to monitor the activities of the vandals.

    The operation also caused gridlock from Agric to Majidun as the gun-wielding men ransacked motorists.

    They also accosted some commercial operators and passersby were also to the creeks to evacuate the fuel.

    At the creeks, armed men were seen directing civilians to offload the fuel from ferries into the trucks.

    A bus conductor who shuttles between Ketu and Ikorodu, condemned the forcing of civilians to evacuate the fuel, adding that he was exhausted by the task.

    He said, “We were coming from Ikorodu Garage when they stopped our bus. I was forced to carry several jerricans of fuel; 50 litres for that matter. It is very annoying. You can see how they are leading innocent passersby to watersides to offload fuel.”

    A resident, Kabiru Kola, said the activity of the security agents had created panic in the residents, adding that some of them had fled the community.

    “We have been holding our breath since 2am when the operation started. Most people, especially boys have left the community for the fear of being taken as suspects. The perpetrators have run away while some of them have been arrested. Two days ago, I noticed that a helicopter hovered around here for five hours. Since then, I have been heralding something like this,” he said.

    The spokesperson of Lagos State Command of NSCDC, Mr. Mefor Chibuzor, confirmed the operation.

    He said the corps was alerted to it on Sunday morning.

    Chibuzor added that the security agencies would continue oppressing vandals until they desist from tampering with the pipes.

    “A joint operation involving our men, naval and army officials are ongoing now around Agric and Majidun in the Ikorodu area. Some vandals have been arrested while thousands of kegs loaded with petroleum products were recovered from the scene of crime. The creeks were busted following an intelligence report. We will continue to run after the vandals until they stop destroying the government property across the waters,” he said.

  • Police: Igwe’s houses vandalised, not burnt

    Anambra State Police Commissioner Usman Gwary has said calm has been returned to Oko, following Saturday’s violence.

    But he said contrary to reports, the ruler, Prof Laz Ekwueme’s houses were not burnt.

    Gwary, who admitted that the houses were vandalised, said only the Igwe’s vehicles were burnt.

    Orumba North Local Government Chairman Chief Okey Enekwe, speaking after setting up a five-man panel to probe the violence, said: “Governor Obiano wants peace, unity and solidarity from the 177 communities, not war and protests.

    ‘’Everybody should be calm and support the peace and growth of their communities. The governor is peace-loving and wants peace in Oko.’’

    Igwe Ekwueme escaped being lynched on Saturday. Three of his choice vehicles were burnt., including 10 motorcycles and other valuables belonging to others. A guest house allegedly belonging to a non-indigene worker at the polytechnic, Chukwudi Nwankwo, was vandalised.

    Enekwe said the Igwe, last week, wrote his council banning the masquerade performance at this year’s Afia Olu festival.

    He said masquerades had been banned at some communities in Orumba, including Oko, because of their dubious activities.

    The chairman saidthey could only perform with permission from the council.