Pipeline Vandalism: Self-Inflicted Agony – Boroh

The Special Adviser to
the President on Niger Delta and Co-ordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig-General Paul Boroh, has described vandalism of oil and gas pipelines in the country as a self-inflicted agony.
Boroh, while speaking against the backdrop of the recent attack on the Chevron pipeline in Delta State warned the masterminds of the attacks of dire consequences of their nefarious activities.
He said the act is not only condemnable, but poses grave danger to the Niger Delta region in particular and to the economy of the nation, in general.
“Pipeline vandalism is an avoidable self-inflicted agony. It is unreasonable to engage in such criminal activity not only because of the resultant economic effect on the country but particularly as it also negatively affects the Niger Delta environment.
“The act of vandalising pipelines is counterproductive apart from it being crime against the state.
“Those involved in this nefarious activity are economic and environmental saboteurs. It will do well for them to refrain from it as my office is always open to dialogue regardless of their grievances”, he said.
Boroh noted that the federal government has put in place a well-structured reintegration programme for youths of the Niger Delta and that such has helped in maintaining the peace and also stabilised security in the region.
He remarked that the Amnesty Programme has made militancy unattractive in the region because of the government’s sincerity and commitment to the programme.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the military to crush the new Niger Delta group, Niger Delta Avengers, who claimed responsibility for the vandalism of pipelines which resulted in loss of about 105,000 barrels of oil in three days.
The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig-General Rabe Abubakar, told newsmen Saturday that the military had got such directive.
“We have the order from the President and we are monitoring the activities of the new group. All efforts will be made to bring out those behind it”, he said.

Chris Oluoh