A group, Concerned Citizen of Bony, Nembe and Kula Communities in Bayelsa and Rivers state, have accused the personnel of the Joint Task Force, JTF in the areas of engaging in ‘illegal oil bunkering.’
It called on President Muhammadu Buhari to apprehend the JTF members committing the crime and put a stop to their criminal activities in the Niger Delta region.
In a statement on Wednesday by Mr Ebi George and Preye Dumbraye, the four communities in Bayelsa and Rivers states said that they were forced to cry out “again after the publication in the media of May 15, 2018.”
According to them, the illegal activities of the accused JTF members had increased rather than reduce since the publication.
“Since that publication, the activities of oil bunkering have increased ten-fold in our communities. Oil bunkering vessels come in every two days to load oil from Bony, Nember, Kula, and Bille under military escorts who pilot them in-and-out of our communities,”
Commending the efforts of the armed forces in maintaining security in the region, the statement, however, expressed worry that some of the security agents had taken up criminal activities.
“We commend the efforts of the General Officer Commanding, GOC and Commanding Officer 29 Battalion Port Harcourt for his efforts to combat oil bunkering activities. But the bad eggs in the Army and the Navy are actively involved in oil bunkering in Bony, Nembe, Kula, and Bille communities in Rivers and Bayelsa states.”
The communities added that particular attention should be paid to Bony and Nembe as pipeline vandals and oil bunkerers seemed to have taken over the areas.
“We call on the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Naval Staff to direct their field officers and commanders to stop their men from collaborating with oil bunkerers and pipeline vandals in Bony and Nembe axis and Kula and Bille –both in Rivers and Bayelsa who operate in broad daylight under the escort of Army and Navy personnel from Port Harcourt to Bayelsa.
“The brazen manner in which vessels come in and out of Bonny and Nembe is very alarming. Kula and Bille are not left out. The ongoing battle by the GOC and Commanding Officer of 29 Battalion in Kula and Bille to combat pipeline vandals and oil bunkerers should be extended to Bony and Nembe.”
