By Samuel OYADONGHA

Disturbed by the unrelenting activities of crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals in the Niger Delta, the Joint Task Force, JTF, code-named, “Operation Pulo Shield,” has adopted the carrot and stick approach to fight the menace. The JTF is saddled with the responsibility of ridding the region of these economic saboteurs bleeding the nation economy.

The Joint Task Force had over the years embarked on sustained military campaigns against illegal bunkerers and operators of illegal crude oil distilling camps, destroying many camps and their working tools with several persons arrested.

But the special security force is still battling to capture crude oil thieves in the troubled region, many of whom after their arrest and hand over to the prosecuting agencies, still find their ways back to the creek to continue with the illicit business.

This disturbing trend, Sweetcrude learnt, may have informed the change of strategy by the JTF under the leadership of Major General, Emmanuel Atewe. The security outfit is currently on sensitisation tour of the local communities educating the rural folks on the inherent dangers they are exposed to by shielding the oil thieves desecrating their environment and exposing them to health risks.

While the oil barons are smiling to the banks, the locals are faced with environmental despoliation and their means of livelihood destroyed. The JTF last week took its fight against oil theft amongst oil communities to the Brass Island in Bayelsa, where Atewe led officers and men to address youths, women and members of the community on the ills of crude oil theft.

The General had earlier paid a courtesy visit on the traditional ruler of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, who noted that acts of oil theft and vandalism were perpetrated by strangers to the community. He therefore pledged the cooperation of the community with the JTF to fish out the vandals in the area.

Modular refineries

Speaking at the Twon Brass Town Hall, Atewe said that the JTF has recommended the legalisation of modular refineries in the Niger Delta to provide gainful employment to the teeming youths. He explained that under the plan, the operators of the artisanal refinery would procure crude legally and refine for local use in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The Commander noted that oil theft deprives the government of revenue and distorts the ecosystem and exposed the environment to toxic materials that negatively affect the health of the residents. He also said that the JTF believed in persuasion to get the people see the need to refrain from stealing crude.