By Aherhoke Okioma
Yenagoa
The Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation PULO SHIELD, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, has warned oil thieves operating in the Niger Delta to look for a legitimate means of livelihood or relocate from the region vowing to crush illegal oil bunkering experts and other criminals.
He gave the warning at Igbematoro Community in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state during the commissioning of a water borehole he donated to the community.
Received by crowd at Igbematoro jetty, the commander called on all the Igbematoro people to join hands with the task force in the fight against oil criminalities in line with the zero tolerance campaign.
Items donated to re-direct the energies of the communities into positive use includes: a sewing machine to Mrs Patient Ibitim, the sum of N350, 000 was also given to Mr. Job Magnam for the treatment of an illness, while the youth received football kits in fulfilment of the promise he made during the sensitisation campaign, early this year.
He assured that the renovation and equipping of a dilapidated primary school building is on-going, just as he donated fishing nets to improve fishing business in the community.
In Brass local government area, Atewe urged the people to support the campaign against oil thieves and illegal oil bunkering and gave them sensitisation items such as Umbrella, tee-shirts, flyers, and banners were distributed freely.
At Akassa community, the commander dislodged a syndicate of illegal oil bunkerers, destroying more than 20 illegal distillery camps where oil thieves operated with 16 pumping machines, 10 metal tanks and five Cotonuo boats filled with illegally acquired crude oil and Automated Gas Oil (AGO), though no arrest was made as the suspects escaped on sighting the troops.
In his remarks, the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Comrade Udengs Eradiri, represented by Elder James Oyeimebi thanked the Commander for the amenities provided to the Igbomotoro which he said wwould go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the people.