As parts of efforts to carryout it’s mandate in curbing oil theft
in the Niger Delta, the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe, OPDS,
says it has foiled over 313 attempts to vandalised major crude oil
export pipelines in the region.
The
vandalism incidents, according to OPDS Commander, Rear Admiral Akinjide
Akinrinade, occurred between January and September 2019.
The
pipelines are the Trans Niger Pipeline, Trans Escravos Pipeline and
Trans Ramos Pipeline, operated by the Shell Petroleum Development
Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, and Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL.
Speaking
today, during the flag off of Operation Safety Check 6th, in Alakiri,
Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, OPDS Commander, Rear
Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, said 988 illegal crude refining camps were
also destroyed during the period under review.
Akinrinade
explained that Operation Safety Check 6th, was aimed at stepping up
operation tempo in the joint operation area as the year gradually comes
to an end.
The OPDS boss said the objective of
the operation is to sustain the successes recorded so far and improve on
operational efforts in order to deny criminal elements the space within
the joint task force area.
He urged the people
to always involve themselves in legitimate business, and ensure they
avoid illegality, which according to him, does not pay.
It could be recalled that OPDS successfully conducted Safety Checks 1-5 with tremendous achievements.
Safety
Check 5 which was conducted from March 19 to, Sept 9. 2019 resulted to
the arrest of about 553 suspects, destructions of 988 illegal refineries
and 15 sea pirates camps.
Also, OPDS impounded
items used to facilitate economic crimes, which include 22 vessels, 42
barges 210 outboard motor engines and 410 other types of boats.
Additionally, OPDS arrested 56 tankers and 313 other vehicles.
Statistics
available reveals that OPDS averted over 313 infractions on Trans
Niger, Trans Ramos and Trans Escravos Pipeline which is 71.6 percent of
the total attempts made on the pipelines between January and September
2019,
The OPDS Commander commended the Governor
of Rivers State as well as the management of Eroton Exploration and
Production Limited for their support and collaborations with the JTF.
