JTF intensifies war against oil thieves

By Jimitota ONOYUME

OIL theft is not new in the Niger Delta, but its rising index in recent times is constituting serious worries to government, security agencies and other stakeholders in the oil and gas business in the country.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieut. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, met with his top officers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to critically look at  how to nip the crime effectively and tackle the problem. Ihejirika told  SWEETCRUDE before the meeting that he was in the state to, among other things, discuss with his men on how best they could achieve concrete success in the anti bunkering crusade.

[caption id="attachment_251637" align="alignnone" width="412"] File Photo: Nigerian Navy[/caption]

The Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, has consistently lamented the negative impact of oil theft on the nation’s economy. At an interactive session with media in Port Harcourt, he said oil theft was becoming a threat to the nation’s economy.

He said those behind the illicit act, had set up tank farms and other storage facilities for their trade. Some, according to him, had also gone ahead to locally refine the product which they push into markets in the region.

He further expressed worries with the impact of their activities on the environment, saying it was constituting a major pollution problem.

Sunmonu said the federal government had projected an increase in oil production to about four [4] million barrels per day, with a reserve of about 40 billion barrels, wondering how realizable the projection is with the rising cases of crude oil theft in the region.

Shell’s Nembe Creek Trunk line, NCTL, was shut down for about three months this year because oil thieves had punctured about 56 holes on the pipeline from where they siphoned crude into vessels, barges and tank farms for export and local refining.

In its renewed battle to fight the ugly situation to a standstill in the region, the Joint Task Force accompanied Shell’s technical crew on ground trotting exercise along oil pipelines in the high sea. The ground trotting exercise covered the NCTL between San Barth Manifold to Krakrama on the water ways.

The Commanding Officer, 130 Battalion, Lt. Col. Caius Banshe, who led the JTF team, explained that the exercise was to confirm bunkering points on the Nembe Line that had been fixed by the multi-national oil giant. Shell’s surveillance contractors and the technical team were part of the verification exercise.

A Spokesman for Shell, Mr. Joseph Obari, told journalists on the trip that his firm had to engage some locals as surveillance contractors to alert the firm of ruptured points on its pipeline, adding that the company at the end of the day sends its maintenance team to work on the points.

Kano blast: JTF, Ohanaeze, hospital disagree on casualties

By AbdulSalam Muhammad & Ben Agande

KANO — The casualty fig-ures from the multiple blasts that rocked the predominantly Christian quarters in Kano, Monday evening, has increased to 45 dead, according to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Kano.

Briefing newsmen on the development in Kano, yesterday, Chairman, Kano chapter of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Chief Tobias Idika, said: “We counted 45 dead bodies and they have all been deposited at the morgue for identification by relations.”

“We have records and proof of what we are talking about. I participated in the rescue operations and I am best informed to tell the world what happened regarding the deaths and the injured.”

[caption id="attachment_406796" align="alignnone" width="412"] SURVIVORS: Mr. Emeka Mba, Manager, New Tarzan Motors (left) and Mr. Emeka Ani, survivors of the Kano bomb blasts, in hospital.[/caption]

He revealed that 15 people were injured during the blast, adding that the injured were on admission at various government hospitals in the metropolis.

He described the attack “as one too many on members of the guest community doing their legitimate business in the city and contributing to its growth.

“It is high time those in position of authority rose to stem the tide.”

Idika commended the decision of the state government to take care of the medical bill of the injured.

He, however, expressed skepticism on the sincerity of the pledge “in the light of previous experiences where such victims were left on their own after the profit making statement on camera.

“We have seen this kind of promises in the past that start and end in camera, and it is our hope this kind of promises by the governor will be translated into concrete action for the benefit of mankind.”

12 died— JTF

Contesting the casualty figure in a statement, the Joint Military Task Force said: “At 9 p.m. on July 29, sounds of simultaneous explosion were triggered by persons suspected to be members of the Boko Haram group between 38 and 41, New Road and Igbo Road by Enugu Road.”

The statement by Captain Ikediche Iweha added that “12 persons were confirmed to have died from both incidents, while a couple of others, who sustained various degree of injuries, were rushed to hospital for medical attention.

“The latest incidents could have been avoided if citizens had maintained vigilance to observe when packages are dropped as it was in this case, contrary to reports circulating in some media that they were suicide bombers.”

Hospital says 24 dead, 10 injured

Speaking on the development, spokesman of Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Aminu Inuwa, said “this hospital received 24 dead bodies from security agents, and the breakdown of the figure shows that three out of this figure are female.

“We also have in the hospital 10 injured persons that are being attended to by our team of expert. We are doing our best to save lives, and we therefore call for understanding.”

He denied reports that the hospital authorities refused to release corpses to relation for interment.

He said: “This is an organization. We have a process and we always ensure that it is followed to the letter to avoid backlash, and this is the best practice all over the world.”

Kwankwaso’s pledge

Kano State Government has, however, directed health institutions handling cases of injured victims of the blast to offer free service to them.

Kwankwaso, who gave the directive during a visit to the victims at the Murtala Mohammed Hospital, Kano, described the attack “as an attack on Nigeria,” adding that “we will do our best to stop reoccurrence.”

In the meantime, JTF has stepped up patrols in the city following renewed onslaught by the extremist group in the city.

Armed troops in patrol vehicles were seen all over the city, especially areas designated as “dark spots,” while cautioning residents to be wary and report suspicious abandoned packages.

Meanwhile, Federal Government has extended the time frame for the work of the Kabiru Tanimu-led Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North by two months to allow it complete its assignment.

Boko Haram  C'ttee reacts

This is coming on the heels of assertion by chairman of the committee and Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Kabiru, that despite the bomb blast in Kano State that claimed scores of lives, the committee will continue its assignment.

Speaking with State House correspondents after collecting the letter of extension yesterday, Tanimu said that the committee was in contact with genuine members of the Boko Haram sect and that the ceasefire offer was still on course.

According to him, the seeming disparate voices from members of the sect on their meetings with the committee represent the various dynamics within them.

He said: “There are people who are engaged in it on the basis of ideology or dogma. Some people are doing it on the basis of economic benefits.

“Some people are fifth columnists, who will make sure you don’t succeed in whatever you do.”

Speaking on the Kano incident, Tanimu said it was really unfortunate that it happened at a time serious efforts were being made by government to ensure that issues were sorted out.

He said that some people, who did not wish the country well, were trying to pull the hands of the clock backwards.

 

Yobe traders accuse JTF of extortion

BY BALA AJIYA
DAMATURU — Transporters and traders in Yobe State are lamenting alleged extortion by military personnel attached to the Joint Task Force, JTF, at check points in Damaturu.

Buba Umar, a trader that normally transports his wares from Kano to Maiduguri, in an interview with  Vanguard, Monday alleged that they spend up to N20,000 to bribe  the JTF on every trip at more than 50 check points, saying the amount is outrageous.

He said: “Prices of foodstuff in the market have risen as a result of the extra expenses we incur, like the bribe we give to JTF and the hours we spend on the road.

"Some of these good are perishable, we have to deliver on time, but due to these numerous check points, they usually get spoiled. Many suppliers from Kano axis have stopped supplying food items to Damaturu because of this and it makes the prices of goods to go up.”

Another transporter said they spent hours on the long queue that stretches up to three kilometres at times, and the JTF are not helping matters.

JTF reviews curfew hours in Borno

BY NDAHI MARAMA

MAIDUGURI—The Joint Task Force, Operation Restore Order, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital has reviewed the 6am to 7pm curfew earlier imposed on the state following alleged ‘’tremendous improvement in the security situation in the state.’’

[caption id="attachment_391326" align="alignnone" width="412"] Officers of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) patrolling in Maiduguri in a sweeping offensive against Boko Haram militants.
AFP PHOTO/[/caption]

Henceforth, the curfew would now start from 11pm to 6am daily with effect from Tuesday July 16, 2013.

In a statement, the JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said: ”The JTF observed tremendous improvement in the security situation in the state, and for that reason and in the spirit of Ramadan fasting, we have find it expedient to review the curfew timings imposed in the state.

”The JTF hereby inform the general public that the curfew in the state is extended from 11pm to 6am daily with effect from Tuesday, July 16.”

The JTF, however, requested all citizens to remain vigilant throughout the Holy month.