By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa – The Joint Task Force has described as untrue claim by some politicians including a member of the Dutch parliament that its personnel were involved in crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.

Rather, the JTF said its operation had brought about improved security in the region with the spate of sea robbery, kidnap of oil workers and vandalism of the nation’s oil infrastructure greatly reduced even though of its personnel had to paid the supreme price for security and stability in the Niger Delta.

Some politicians including a Dutch parliamentarian, Sharon Gesthuizen in Holland, had in a chat with some national dailies accused the personnel of the Joint Task Force of complicity in the oil theft and violence in the troubled region.

But the special security forces, in a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa by its Coordinator Joint Media Campaign, Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha, dismissed the claims of the Dutch parliamentarian “as misplaced and malicious.”

The JTF noted that its “personnel are not involved in any act of illegality, be it stealing of oil as was alleged or any other activity which is not in consonance with its mandate in the Niger Delta.”

The statement read in part, “In the last one year of JTF’s operation in the Niger Delta, security has improved considerably, the spate of sea robbery, kidnap of oil workers and vandalism of the nation’s oil infrastructure has been reduced considerably.

“Within this period also, the nation’s economy has rebound significantly on account of the huge improvement in the nation’s crude oil output which is also predicated on security provided by the JTF.

“Most regrettably, some JTF personnel have even paid the supreme price for security and stability in the Niger Delta region. It is important to note that the successes enumerated above could not have been achieved and the loss of gallant officers and men sustained, if the JTF had compromised as alleged.”

It added, “Against this background, it is difficult to understand why certain people or groups go to great extent to contrive stories in a bid to achieve their ambition of undermining the reputation and achievements of the JTF. In the light of this development which unfortunately, stands truth in the head, the JTF finds it intriguing and ironic that a Dutch member of parliament who is a beneficiary of the confusion in the Niger Delta is the one casting aspersion on the JTF.”

“Consequently, the JTF urges the media and members of the public to discountenance unsubstantiated and malicious remarks from people who come around as friends but actually mean to exploit our situation, create instability and profit from it.”