New JTF Boss Reads Riot Act To Oil Thieves

A new Joint Military Task Force Commander, Major General Ilyasu Abbah, has cautioned crude oil thieves and sea pirates in the Niger Delta to stay clear of the region or face arrest and prosecution.
The new commander of the JTF in the Niger Delta code-named ‘Operation Pulo Shield’ headquartered in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, who made the declaration after the change of baton ceremony with Major General Bata Debiro, pledged to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor.
Gen Abbah noted that the JTF under the former commander recorded massive achievements upon which he would execute the operations of the security outfit for the region, promising that all loopholes in its operations would be plugged.
He stated that the JTF would continue to carry out its mandate of protecting oil installations and curbing oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and refining camps in the creeks of the area.
He said: “Everybody knows that the economy of the nation is built on oil. And there is a lot of oil theft, illegal bunkering, illegal refineries going on in the region.”
According to him, “the Federal Government has shown so much concern about it; that this thing should be curbed and be completely get rid of. That is exactly what we are here to do”.
Earlier, his predecessor, Major-General Bata Debiro had commended the security operatives, and commended them for working very hard to enable the JTF achieve huge success last year.
He equally charged them to sustain the tempo even in 2014 and extend the same level of cooperation he enjoyed to Abbah in order for the war against pipeline vandalism, oil theft, illegal bunkering and economic sabotage to be successful.
Until his appointment, Abbah was the commander, 3 Brigade, Kano, where he served between 2012 and 2013, among other positions while his predecessor, Major General Debiro who is proceeding on his retirement leave, has completed the mandatory 35 years of service in the military.