JTF arrests 2 Britons, 12 Nigerians for illegal bunkering

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Operatives of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta code named Operation Pulo Shield have arrested two Britons and 12 Nigerian technicians over their alleged involvement in illegal bunkering along the Chanomi Creek in the western delta.
The suspects were said to have   offered the operatives of the JTF  the sum of $66,500, to create safe passage for them to siphon crude oil into their barges from a Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline along the Chanomi creek in Delta State.   But the offer was rejected.

The two Britons identified are Messrs Piers Eastwood and Vincent Haywood attached to a United Kingdom based maritime security firm with regional branch in Lagos, according to the JTF, were to provide security/consultancy to MT Crete, a vessel believed to have positioned at Brass open waters for supposed illegal bunkering.

Trouble, it was learnt, started for the suspects when on March 17, a representative of a firm (name withheld) approached the JTF   Headquarters, with an approval letter from the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta and an authorization from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC through the Naval Headquarters.
The approval, we learnt, was to evacuate products from an arrested vessel under the custody of the NN at NNS DELTA between 12 March -14 April 2014.

The Joint Task Force approval was reportedly issued and immediately, the headquarters directed Sector 1 of the special security outfit to monitor their activities in the waterways.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday  at the headquarters of the JTF in Yenagoa where the suspects were paraded, the commander of the outfit, Major General Emmanuel Atewe who was represented by the Media  Coordinator, JMCC Col Onyema   Nwachukwu said they were arrested by operatives of the task force as part of ongoing effort to combat the menace of crude oil theft and other sundry crimes in the region.

According to him, “the Operations officer of 3 Battalion discovered through their confession that their intention was to hack into one of SPDC pipelines in Chanomi creek, Warri Delta State and siphon crude oil.
”They gave him as an initial payment, a bribe of $5,000 for recharge card and $1500 to fuel a gunboat that will escort the stolen crude oil.”

According to him, they requested the Operations Officer of 3 Battalion to facilitate a meeting with the Commander 4 Brigade, Brig Gen Fidelis Azinta.

Continuing he said, “the meeting was convened as a bait on March 20, 2014 at the Brigade Commander’s office. During the meeting, the suspects expressed their desire to connect a hose to SPDC pipeline along the Chanomi creek in Delta State so as to illegally siphon crude oil into barges.

”While in the Brigade Commander’s office, they promised to bribe the Brigade’s Commander, with the sum of N20m as well as take care of the officers and soldiers along the Chanomi creek.
”On 21 March   2014, one of the suspects brought to the Brigade Commander $60,000 which translates to N10m being 50 per cent of the N20m promised. The suspects were immediately arrested for attempting to bribe the Brigade Commander for economic sabotage.
”Twelve technicians who were to connect the hoses to facilitate the theft and their implements were also arrested.”
He added that a follow up operation subsequently led to the arrest of two Britons, who were in company of seven Nigeria policemen led by an inspector.

The two Britons, according to the JTF commander were security consultants from a United Kingdom- based port maritime security firm with regional branch in Lagos.

”The two flew into Lagos on 20 March and left for Port Harcourt same day where they met with a Nigerian (one Bello) who was supposed to be their point of contact. The two Britons were to provide security escort/consultancy to MT Crete, a vessel believed to have been positioned at Brass open waters for suspected illegal oil bunkering”.

Gen Awete revealed that all the suspects and exhibits were transferred to JTF headquarters on March 23 for further investigation adding that a joint investigation team was immediately constituted to carry out a preliminary investigation where all the suspects and witnesses were invited and also examined the exhibits, documents and equipment recovered.

This include, the sixty thousand dollars offered to Brig Gen Azinta, the six thousand five hundred dollars offered to Capt M Abdullahi which were displayed to newsmen.
The suspects were later handed over to the Department of State Security for prosecution.

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3 dead, 100 injured as Delta community, Shell clash over GMOU

UZERE (DELTA) — ABOUT three persons are feared dead and 100 others, including women and children, injured in a stampede, Tuesday, at Uzere in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta, when soldiers and mobile policemen fired tear gas on protesters at a Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, flow station in the area.

Angered by the action of the soldiers and policemen, the protesters burnt a Mercedes benz car and two Hilux vehicles provided for the security agents by the oil company.

Angry villagers also razed their traditional ruler’s palace, his guest house and wife’s store. They alleged that some leaders of the community were conspiring with the oil company against them.

At the time the community youths forced their way into the company, the security agents had become jittery over the repercussion of their action and fled.


Protest: Uzere youths protesting at Shell Petroleum Development Company facility in Uzere,Tuesday.
Divisional Police Officer, DPO, for Isoko South, Chief Superintendent Chris Forgbara, who led a team of policemen to quell the disturbance was also affected by the tear-gas from the security agents, who also shot indiscriminately into the air.

We gathered that the community had expressed misgivings that SPDC, which started operations in the area since 1958, had not signed a Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMOU, and, therefore, mobilised for a peaceful protest.

The protesters, numbering about 5,000, and led by members of the oil and gas committee in Uzere community, Messrs Okegbe Sam, Meshack Uge and Godspower Aluya, demanded that the barricade to the flow station be dismantled as they wanted to get to the gate and present their demands to the company.

It was alleged that the security agents insisted that they should disperse immediately and fired canisters of tear-gas into the air to scare them away. With gunshots also renting the air, the villagers ran helter-skelter, sustaining injuries in the process. The scale of the injury sustained by the protesters allegedly infuriated the entire community.

Over 500 motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada, also massed together and rode furiously, daring anybody to come out and attack them.



Shell’s ‘crimes’



In a statement issued on the state of affairs between Shell and its host communities in Uzere kingdom, President-General of the community, Chief Emeakpo Owhe, said: “It is a known fact that Uzere land has been blessed with oil and gas. It is also a known fact that Shell has exploited this natural resources on our fatherland for the past 52 years (since 1958).”

He said the company did not enter into any agreement with the people, adding, “consequent upon the above, we wrote Shell since February 2011 to come to Uzere to discus and firm up the GMoU (Global Memorandum of Understanding) with Uzere communities.

“In October, we reminded Shell on the imperative of putting a framework in place for the GMoU so that we can legally know the basics for our relationship/partnering and cooperation with SPDC.

“The only hospital Shell managed to build in Uzere is not functional because it refused to fund the health insurance scheme that will enable the hospital take-off properly. SPDC funded a similar Obio Cottage hospital in River State at N24 million. Why have they refused to fund the Uzere Cottage Hospital?

“The ultimatum given to Shell on the issue of GMoU with Uzere kingdom expired months ago, but up till now Shell has not shown any interest to have a GMoU with Uzere kingdom, its host.

“We have also written to the Delta State Government on the refusal by Shell to sign the GMoU. The Uzere community has, therefore, decided that if SPDC still wants to operate in Uzere land, it should come and sign a GMOU with Uzere before carrying out further oil activities with effect from today (yesterday).”

Shell responds

Shell Media Officer in Warri, Mr. Joseph Obari told Vanguard: “We have confirmed that a group of youths from Uzere community this morning (Tuesday) invaded SPDC’s Uzere Flow Station and shut it down. They attacked workers and burnt two security vehicles.”

According to him, the youths were reportedly demanding the signing of a GMoU with the community.

He added: “SPDC has phased the implemen-tation of its highly successful GMoU model for sustainable develop-ment. Apart from two GMoUs tied to specific projects, the programme is already being implemented in three clusters in Delta State.

“We are working with the Delta State government to resolve the situation.”

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