Oil Theft: JTF Arrests 14 persons, 53 vessels in Niger Delta

Authorities of the Joint Military Task Force, codenamed Operation Restore Hope, has confirmed the arrest of 14 oil thieves and suspected cultists along the creeks and waterways of the Niger Delta in 2014.

According to the JTF, though the 2014 year was a difficult one due to the poor terrain of the creeks and the use of heavy arms and ammunitions by oil thieves ,the men of the JTF has seized over 53 vessels,200 barges and destroyed 840 illegal refineries used for illegal bunkering activities in the region.
The Commander Joint Task Force, Operation PULO SHIELD, Major General, Emmanuel Jebe Atewe, while giving end of the year account of performance of the force, said inspite of the difficult terrain, it is more determined in the war against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta.
Atewe,represented by the outgoing coordinator of the Joint Media Centre of the Task Force, said the campaign against oil- related crimes in the region with his campaign, tagged, “Zero Tolerance on oil theft,” has covered land, maritime and air operations against illegal oil bunkering, illegal oil refining, pipeline vandalism, armed banditry and piracy.
According to him, “The JTF arrested Messrs Jarret Tamede, Peter Dulian and 10 others who attempted to vandalize and siphon crude oil from one of the Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC) pipeline at Chanomi creek in Delta State after failed attempt to bribe the commander sector 1, with the tune of $65,000.The command has also carried out repels of attacks by sea robbers along the creeks which led to the recovering of caches of different calibers of arms and ammunitions, smoke grenades, speed boats, pumping machines, cell phones.”
Recently, a cult leader, Mr Solomon Owhondah, who was the brain behind serial killings and destruction of property worth millions of naira in Ibaa community at Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State was arrested by the command.
According to the JTF, the suspect is currently undergoing thorough investigation to ascertain his level of involvement before handing him over to appropriate prosecuting agency.
Items recovered from the cult group include, one police Barretal rifle, one double barrel gun, three locally made pistols, eight Nokia phones, three empty magazines and four rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.”
“Additionally, the JTF has recorded series of successes in rescuing kidnapped victims in the Niger Delta Region. Notably among them include, Chief Inengite Nitabai, who was kidnapped at Otuoke in Ogbia LGA early this year, also the rescue of His Royal Majesty Augustine Ebikeme (JP) at Kokori Local Government Area of Delta State, Mrs Osiyo Agama, who was abducted on 22 October 2014 in Port Harcourt, Madam Patient Agbani and Mrs Florentina Paulker, to mention but a few.”
“The command in order to make the region environment conducive for economic activities destroyed kidnapper’s den at Forupa in Southern Ijaw LGA. The activities of the hoodlums extends to neighboring communities of Azuzuama and Ekeni in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State. These criminals cash on the difficulty of maneuverability in the creeks. With concerted efforts of the JTF, three Dutch nationals, the trio of Erhard Leffers, Marionne Vos and Jandries Groenendiok regained their freedom from kidnappers in 10 May 14.”
On the reported deployment of 30 gun boats by the Defence headquarters to tackle oil theft, the JTF said it was part of its effort towards improving on the security challenges in the Niger Delta, “the Defence Headquarters has ordered for the deployment of over 30 gun boats to the region. While some of the gun boats have arrived, others were still on the way.”