The Commander NNS Delta, Warri, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu on Friday disclosed that the Command has evolved new tactics aimed at curtailing the activities of pipeline vandals and illegal refinery operators in the creeks of Delta and Edo states.
Speaking when he led officers, key political leaders and stake holders to interface with indigenes of Ugbodede community over illegal refinery activities in the area, he said, “We have carried out operations against the illegal refinery in this community in the past and it has resumed again. Now we have decided to change our mode of operation.
“Henceforth we are going to be involving the Warri South Local Government Council and directly engaging people of Ugbodede Community in our operation against illegal refinery.
He expressed concern on the negative implication of the operation of such refinery on the aquatic and health life of Ugbodede indigenes.
Commodore Dewu revealed that perpetrators of the sabotage connected illegal pipes to the well head, which has large quantity of crude oil.
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On their part, the people of Ugbodede Community in Warri South Local Government Area revealed that they are afraid of those who tapped the NPDC oil well in the community coastline and operated illegal refinery in the area.
They blamed the NPDC for not doing enough to secure the well head.
Chairman of Ugbodede Community Trust, Mr. William Cheke earlier told the NNS Delta Commander and key political leaders in Warri South LGA during the visit to engage them on ways of stopping the operation of illegal refinery in the Warri South community.
Disclosing that those operating the illegal refinery are strangers, Mr. Cheke commended the Nigerian Navy for not apprehending innocent people and tasked the management of NPDC to engage indigenes of the community so as to enhance their economic life.
The Vice Chairman of Warri South Local Government, Mrs. Divine Iniovosa who was accompanied by Leader of Warri South Council Legislative Arm, Hon. Kingsley Edafiajebre, Secretary to the Local Government, Mr. Joseph Oribioye, admonished operators of the illegal refinery to desist forthwith and tasked people of Ugbodede to do everything within their means to halt the illegality.
The lawmaker representing Orugbo Ward in Warri South Council Legislative Arm, Hon. Misan Fombo also cautioned Ugbodede people to guide against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, so as not to make the security agencies clampdown on the community.
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