Stoppage Of Kpofire’ll Not Increase Crime – Monarch

The Onuekein/Amanyanabo of Obonnoma Kingdom in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, HRM King Enenibo-ofori Dateme Obonogina has dismissed the arguments that the stoppage of illegal oil bunkering also known as Kpofire will increase crime in the state.
King Dateme who said this in an exclusive interview with The Tide in his office in Port Harcourt said some of those involved in illegal oil bunkering are not there because they are criminals but as a way of survival.
He also said there is no society where government employs everybody, noting that apart from the kpofire business, there are other legitimate sources of survival.
King Dateme further said government action in stopping the menace was timely to save the situation from degenerating.
The traditional ruler said apart from the black soot, kpofire business has polluted farmlands, rivers even that fresh water areas where people drink from the rivers have been polluted.
According to him, the situation has caused fishes to migrate out of the rivers, thereby making things difficult for fishermen and those who eat fishes.
King Dateme reminded the government of its role in ensuring the availability of petroleum products in the country.
He stressed the need for the four refineries to be made functional, while new refineries be built in the country.
The monarch used the occasion to commend the chairman of Akuku Toru Local Government Area, Hon. Roland Sekibo, for his effort in sanitising the area of illegal oil bunkering activities and urged the people to support him.
He said the people of Obonnoma had before now taken far reaching steps towards sanitising the area of kpofire activities through regular dialogue and sensitisation of its youths, adding that in Obonnoma main town there is no illegal oil bunkering.

By: John Bibor