Illegal refining: JTF intensifies patrol of N’Delta waterways

There were indications on Sunday that the military might have intensified its patrol of the waterways in the Niger Delta following the recent discovery of illegal oil refineries in the region.

The military Joint Task Force had in March, destroyed over 500 illegal oil refineries in the region in a move to curtail the destruction of oil pipelines and wellheads by oil thieves.

The JTF also destroyed over 600 illegal refineries in the region last December, an illegal business which industry experts say costs the country a loss of about 100,000 of crude oil per day.

The JTF spokesman, Lt. Col Timothy Antigha, who confirmed the renewed onslaught on the illegal oil business, noted that at least four suspects had been arrested in connection with the crime.

The military, he said, had considerably reduced the activities of the militants noting, however, that its major challenge was how to curb the illegal activities of the bunkerers who had resorted to local refining.

Antigha also refuted reports that there was a lull in its efforts to curb militancy in the area because some of the military officers had been moved to fight Boko Haram in the north.

He said, “Last month, we (the military) raided many illegal oil refineries because that seems to be the major challenge now since militancy has significantly receded. We have also redirected our energies to the patrol of central areas in the Niger Delta and we will continue to chase the criminals.

“These products are poorly refined and this is added to the issue of environmental pollution when they break crude oil pipes because they don’t have the technology to seal them back. Even their illegally refined products damage car engines and cause kerosene explosions.

“We have raided them several times and we will continue to intensify the raids until we chase them out and stop their nefarious activities. The JTF is confronting them frontally because this is pure economic sabotage.

“They steal oil; they damage pipelines and in the course of that they pollute the environment because they do not meet industry standards.”

The military, he added, was on the trail of the sponsors of those involved, adding that all the states in the region were involved in the illegal business.

He said the four arrested persons were already helping in unmasking the sponsors of oil bunkering.

He also called on all concerned agencies to support the JTF in advocacy and public enlightenment in their efforts.

“The JTF calls on all concerned agencies of government to key into our activities by way of advocacy, prosecution and public enlightenment because this is a very dangerous business and we need their support,” he added