Oil Thiéves, Illégal Refinéry Opérators, Are Enémies Of State, Should Be Tréated As Such, Gov  Otti

By Suleiman Anyalewechi.

The unwholesome and sabotaging activities of illegal petroleum products dealers and  refinery operators, on Friday, June 7 2024, took the centre stage when officials  of the Joint Task Force South-south Operation Delta Safe, paid a visit to the Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti.

Governor Otti charged the task force members to treat operators of illegal refineries and other related activities for what they are – the enemies of the State.

The Source reports that the task force members whose primary assignment is to properly secure petroleum products  facilities and operations in the States that make up the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, said they are in Abia to solicit the support of the Government in the effective discharge of their duties .

The Abia State Governor, urged the taskforce to intensify their efforts in combating the menace of oil theft and operation of illegal refineries, noting that the situation is negatively impacting on both the economy of the state and the country in general.

“Those that operate illegal refineries and other activities are the enemies of the state and should be treated as such .

“Be they in Aba or Ukwa, Port Harcourt, Bayelsa, and/or any of the other ten States where you operate . The long arms of the  law must catch up with them ..

“For us, we do not support any illegality by anybody in a any form .You can take it for granted that we as a Government will give you all the support to carry out your operation here.” Governor stated .

However, he called on the task force officials to widen the scope of their operations to include the protection of the State’s priced asset in Owaza Ukwa West – the Abia State Industrial and Innovative Park AIIP which is  under incubation.

This is even as he has assured the task force team of the unwavering support of the State Government in the discharge of their assignment,particularly in the areas of logistics and intelligence.

Governor Otti, also, informed the members of the task force that until the gruesome killings of five soldiers by some criminal elements on May 30,the state had been relatively peaceful ,promising that all lawful efforts are being made to unmask those behind the despicable act.

He insisted that security remains top on the pecking order of his administration’s policy thrust ,while noting that no meaningful developmental initiatives will succeed in an atmosphere of insecurity.

The Commander of the Taskforce, Real Admiral John Okeke, also, informed that their visit is to get acquainted with the Abia, as one of the areas under its operational jurisdiction being an Oil producing State.

He assured that the team will work in concert with the State authorities, Security Agencies and other relevant stakeholders to halt the activities of oil thieves and petroleum products facilities vandals .

“The Federal Government thought it wise to come up with the  Joint Taskforce SouthSouth Operation Delta Safe with a mandate to protect oil and gas infrastructures and stop militancy ,piracy ,crude oil theft ,and other forms unwholesome activities that could impact negatively on the economy” Rear Admiral Okeke noted.

Meanwhile, in a bid to  fastrack and give more impetus to the manhunt for the killers of five soldiers in the state, at Obikabia junction near Aba, Governor Otti, has  upped the   bounty placed on  their heads from N25 million to N30 million.

The source reports that in the wake of the dastardly murder of the soldiers by yet-to-be identified gunmen, the Abia state Governor had announced a N25 million reward for any credible information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

At a meeting with the visiting Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar and other top Military brass on Friday, at his country home, Nvosi Isiala Ngwa, South Local Council of the State, Governor Otti informed that the additional five million Naira was offered by a concerned and patriotic indigene of the state based in the United States of America USA.

He assured his visitors that under his watch the state can not be a haven for killers, kidnappers ,terrorists  and other criminal elements .

The Abia State Governor lauded the efforts, dedication and commitment of security agencies in the State to the fight against crimes in Abia state .