Oil Theft: Navy Sets Vessel Ablaze …Opobo Jetty, Shoreline Destroyed

L-R: Wife of United States Consular-General, Mrs Annie Hawkins, US Consular- General in Nigeria, Mr Jeffrey Hawkins and the Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, during the visit of the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria to the Palace of Alafin of Oyo, yesterday

The peaceful city of Opobo town, headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, was set into pandemonium and panic last Saturday when a  25 feet wooden boat containing stolen crude was allegedly set on fire by men of the Nigerian Navy attached to Ikot Abasi Naval Camp in Akwa Ibom State.
The boat was said to have followed the tide and hung by one of the jetties on the shores of the ancient kingdom with an inferno that did not only damage the jetty and structures on the sand bank, but also posed serious threat to the embankment of the community.
Speaking at the scene of the inferno, chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Hon Maclean Bethel Uranta described as unprofessional the way the naval men handled the suspected boat, knowing fully well that there was a nearby community.
Uranta, who was grateful to God and the people of the area, especially the Opobo youth for their concerted  efforts in seeing that the burning boat did not cause further damage to the community, said that the council would contact the necessary agencies and authorities to effect repairs on the damaged jetty even as he called for the establishment of a fire station at Opobo to help in forestalling future occurance.
Also at the scene was the Amanyanabo of Opobo kingdom, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, who commended the  naval men for  allegedly apprehending  the oil thieves and advised them to exhibit more professionalism and carefulness in handling such economic sabouteurs.
King Jaja, who extolled the youths of the kingdom for their bravery, said since the fire had caused colossal damage to the shore protection facilities in the community, relevant bodies should come to the aid of the community to cushion the effect of the destruction to save the people from flooding and erosion.
Chairman of Opobo Youth Federation, Comrade Emeka John-Africa condemned some youths who allegedly engaged in oil theft which causes damage to the environment and  also depletes the resources of the nation , commending the efforts of those who worked hard to put out the fire despite the unfriendly weather condition.
All efforts to contact the naval base on Ikot Abasi failed since the only phone number of the base available to the reporter was switched off at the weekend.