JTF intercepts 13 shiploads of crude, arrests 567 suspects in 2021

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to protect oil facilities in the Niger Delta, on Friday said its battle against oil theft, vandalism, and sundry crime was yielding remarkable results.

Rear Admiral Aminu Hassan, Commander of the JTF in the South-South said that following a review of operational tactics, 13 ships laden with crude were seized while 567 suspected oil thieves were arrested from Jan 2021 till date.

According to Hassan, following the new approach adopted by the JTF to go after large scale oil thieves, some 9 crude laden barges (special vessels for lifting crude oil) were impounded during the period under review

Hassan who spoke to newsmen on the activities of the joint military force in Yenagoa listed some of the feats achieved in the outgoing year to include the destruction of 1,423 illegal refining sites with over 4,929 storage facilities.

He explained that 536 large wooden boats known in local parlance as Cotonou boats loaded with illegally refined products and crude and 137 trucks and other types of vehicles used in conveying illegally refined product were seized.

Hassan also said that some 40 million litres of crude, 67 million litres of illegally refined products, mainly diesel were recovered from oil thieves and pipeline vandals during anti-crude oil theft operations in the period under review.

He said that the suspected oil thieves have been handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies with some being convicted while others await trials.

He said that the joint force successfully raided and destroyed 51 militants/pirates’ camps where hostages taken from kidnap incidents were kept while 153 assorted weapons and ammunition of various calibres were recovered from the criminals.

He explained that while the Nigerian Navy is tackling piracy at the high seas within Nigerian territorial waters, the JTF is doing the same in the backwaters, a development that has drastically reduced the incidence of maritime crime.

He noted that data from the International Maritime Bureau showed that reported piracy cases dropped to 28 as of Oct 2021, from 46 reported in the same period in 2020 adding that only four cases were linked to Nigeria.

The commander said that the joint force equally utilises the non-kinetic conflict resolution methods which led to the resolution of 54 cases between oil firms and their host communities through dialogues and mediation.

He said that the joint military force within the year has implemented a policy of adherence to rule of law, compliance to court processes and respect for human rights.

Hassan attributed the feats to the support of the Chief of Defence Staff, Geno LEO Irabor, Service Chiefs, and other heads of security agencies who contribute staff to the joint force.

Meanwhile, the senior officers at the JTF, who were recently promoted were decorated with their new ranks by the Commander and Maj-Gen S.J Mohammed GOC 6 Div, Nigerian Army.

The elevated officers are, Brig-Gen Jamilu, Are, Brig-Gen Olufemi Obolo and Commodore Bashir Sule from Colonels and Captain respectively.

Admonishing the officers, Hassan and Mohammed urged them to brace up for the additional responsibilities demanded by their new ranks and justify the confidence reposed on them.

Responding on behalf of the trio, are said that they have been mentored by the Commander and GOC and pledged to justify the confidence reposed on them by the commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.