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JTF Vows To Dismantle Illegal Refineries …Launches Manhunt For Suspected Militants
The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta codenamed ‘Operation Delta Safe’ has said that its operations in Igbomotoru in Southern Ijaw Local Government Council of Bayelsa State were geared towards uprooting a major illegal crude oil refinery camp in the area.
He further assured that the JTF would not leave any stone unturned to exterminate every illegal refinery site in the Niger Delta region to forestall the devastation and pollution of the precious environment by artisanal operators of the production of petroleum products.
Commander of the outfit, Rear Admiral Aminu Hassan, who made this known while briefing journalists at its headquarters at Igbogene, Yenagoa said the camp was operated by a suspected notorious militant leader, Endurance Amaegbe.
Operatives of the Operation Delta Safe had during the operation, which began on June 22 this year, arrested two suspects linked to a suspected militant leader said to own the illegal camp, and seized some items at the illegal refinery site at Igbomotoru.
In recent times, Igbomotoru in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has been in the news with community leaders alleging invasion of the community by the military in collaboration with a pipeline surveillance contracting firm and a multinational oil company operating in the area, accusing the soldiers of harassment of natives and some other excesses.
However, Hassan said that the allegation was not the case as the deployment had no business with the people but focused on dismantling an illegal crude oil refinery camp established in the forest of Igbomotoru by a suspected militant leader who has been intimidating communities in Southern Ijaw and other parts of Bayelsa State.
Hassan said a major pipeline conveying crude oil and other critical infrastructure has been vandalised several times by the suspected militant and his group who were bent on operating the illegal refinery, a situation he described as economic sabotage to the country.
Conducting Journalists round the illegal crude oil refinery camp located about 1.5kilometre off Igbomotoru main town, the Commanding Officer of 343 Artillery Regiment, Elele, Lieutenant Colonel Philemon Malgwi, who led the operation, said it began on June 22 this year to dismantle the activities of the suspected oil thieves who were also terrorising people along the waterways.
He said the operation was not limited to Igbomotoru but also to other communities in Southern Ijaw such as Ikebiri, Azuzuama and adjoining creeks following tip offs, information and intelligence gathered.
Journalists on the fact-finding mission at the House Boat at the Igbomotoru river, saw two suspects reported to be boys of Amaegbe, that were arrested at the illegal refinery camp at the forest.
Other items seized during the operation were three fibre speed boats, a generating set, some fake military camouflage uniforms, mobile and cell phones, walkie talkies and a pistol said to be owned by Amaegbe.
Meanwhile, the people of Igbomotoru had, last weekend, appealed to the federal and state governments to intervene and end an alleged ongoing invasion and harassment by military personnel and some armed youths in their communities.
Traditional rulers, leaders of thought as well as youth and women leaders said at a news briefing in Yenagoa, that property of the communities were being destroyed as natives live in palpable fear following the siege by some soldiers and youth employed by a pipeline surveillance contractor for Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) with the alleged connivance of a dethroned paramount ruler of Igbomotoru.
Locals also decried the alleged killings of their kinsmen by some of the armed youths.
Natives of Igbomotoru 1 and 2 communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State alleged that the invasion and attack of the soldiers and armed youths working for the surveillance contracting firm, Darlon Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited at the instance of NAOC was reportedly instigated following a false report given by the dethroned paramount ruler of the community, Chief Aseimiegha Ofongo.
According to them, the invasion by the military personnel and armed youths in six gun boats, a house boat and five speed boats from the contracting firm, started on June 24 as houses of locals, worship centres and other properties were destroyed.
Acting Paramount Ruler of Igbomotoru One Community, Chief Goodluck Alogodei, alleged that under the dethroned paramount ruler from 1997 to 2005, about nine youths lost their lives with 51 houses razed as members of the community continue to live in fear following the unwarranted invasion and attacks.
A Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Festus Emiri, who hails from Igbomotoru, said the whole crisis boils down to the politics of divide and rule deployed by the IOC to intimidate the community.
Counsel to the community, Mr. Stanley Damabide, said several letters had been written to government and various security agencies, yet, the attacks have continued.
In a reaction, Darlon Oil and Gas Limited said that its attention has been drawn to constant media trial by some leaders of Igbomotoru who have consistently accused its management of being involved in a recent military operation in Igbomotoru communities.
A statement by the Chairman, Darlon Oil and Gas Limited, Chief Levi Wilson, indicated that as a registered and responsible oil and gas company saddled with the responsibility to discourage pipeline vandalism and crude oil bunkering activities, the company finds the repeated accusation that management was involved in the stationing of a military base in Igbomotoru communities to intimidate, maim and kill residents of the community, as rather unfortunate and malicious.
It pointed out that its legal team was carefully studying the press release circulated to media outfits across the country, and would come up with the position of Darlon Oil and Gas Limited on the allegations soon.
It also warned those involved in attempts to tarnish the image of the company to desist forthwith, as the management of Darlon Oil and Gas Limited would not hesitate to take legal action against the sponsors and actors of the unfortunate mudslinging campaign.
The company used the medium to inform the general public that the said involvement of management or staff in the military operation at Igbomotoru community was not only false but a figment of the imagination of some sponsors of crude oil bunkering activities who will stop at nothing but tarnish the image of the company and put it out of the way so that they can go about vandalising crude oil facilities.
It said that the clarification became necessary because its mandate was not to carry out military operations against crude oil thieves but to discourage pipeline vandalism and crude oil bunkering activities.
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Rivers State Chapter, has inaugurated a new Executive Council to pilot the affairs of the institute for the next two years.
The new Executive Council was elected during the maiden edition of the Rivers Public Relations Week and Annual General meeting held last Friday, in Port Harcourt.
The re-election marked a historic moment as members of the chapter converged to chart a new course for professional excellence, ethical standards, and the advancement of public relations practice in the State.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the institute, Ayodeji Emmanuel Afelumo, at the weekend.
The Registrar and Secretary to the NIPR Governing Council, Chief Uzoma Onyegbadue, who swore in the officers charged them to redouble their efforts in upholding professional integrity and excellence in public relations practices.
The officers re-elected for the second term include Rev. Francis Asuk as chairman, Dr. Parry Saroh Benson (Vice Chairman), Mr. Felix Tamuno (Secretary), Alhaja Ayo Odungweru (Treasurer), and Edna Alete as Financial Secretary.
Those with fresh tenure are Dr. Helen Chimezie who was elected as the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Ayodeji Emmanuel Afelumo (Public Relations Officer), and Mrs. Ngowari Oba as Welfare Officer, following the tenure expiration of the former officers.
In his acceptance remarks, Rev. Asuk expressed gratitude to members for their confidence and pledged to uphold the ideals of the institute, promote professional development, and foster partnerships that would further enhance the visibility of public relations in Rivers State and beyond.
The Rivers Public Relations Week is the first of its kind organised by a State chapter of the institute and it provided a platform for practitioners, scholars, and stakeholders to engage in knowledge-sharing, networking, and discussions on the evolving role of public relations in governance, business, and society.
The statement added that the Rivers State Chapter of the NIPR looks forward to a new era of purposeful leadership, innovation, and impact under the stewardship of its newly inaugurated executive council.
News
Falana Gives Ken Saro-Wiwa, Others Clean Bill Of Health …As Activist Decries Marginalisation Of Ogoni People p6 lead
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana(SAN) has apparently exonerated the slain writer and environmental rights activist, Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa and his eight Ogoni kinsmen of the murder charge which led to their execution by hanging by the Gen Sani Abacha military junta on November 10, 1995.
This is even as a human rights activist, Evangelist Caroline Nagbo, has decried the spate of marginalisation against Ogoni people in Nigeria and Rivers State, saying, in spite of the struggles, sacrifices and contributions of the Ogoni people, they have continued to be marginalised, particularly in politics.
Falana, who bared his mind in a keynote address during the 30th Anniversary of the Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Lecture at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt on Friday, said the Ogoni nine never committed the crime for which they were hanged by the Federal Government.
On her part, Nagbo noted in a goodwill message at the event that despite the Ogoni people’s contributions, struggles and sacrifices, they continue to face exclusion and intimidation.
She decried a situation where people who hated Ken Saro-Wiwa during his lifetime, equally hate Ogoni people, because they consider them as very intelligent, stressing that instead of giving them political power, stooges are rather favoured.
According to her, Ogoni people must continue to speak out and agitate for their rights.
Nagbo further noted that the name of Ken Saro-Wiwa always evokes environment, minority and politics, emphasising that the legacies of the late environmental rights activist have continued to inspire and motivate the Ogoni people, and highlighted the significance of his birthday, which coincides with the Ogoni struggle for self-determination, environmental justice, and human rights.
She said the Federal Government’s treatment of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s memory and the Ogoni people is a reflection of the country’s flawed political system, and criticised politicians for their absence at events commemorating Ken Saro-Wiwa’s birthday and even illegal execution, attributing it to the marginalisation and intimidation faced by the Ogoni people.
“If you identify with Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni struggle, you are the enemy of the state, and that is marginalisation and intimidation,” she said.
Nagbo further lamented that despite the Ogoni people’s contributions to the country’s struggle for democracy, they are yet to be adequately rewarded.
“Politically, up till now, an Ogoni individual has never been a Governor, and they are not ready to give it to us, even in the next 30 years.The same thing they did to Ken Saro-Wiwa is the same thing they are doing to the Ogoni sons and daughters. They are manipulating it,” she said.
Nagbo praised the consistency of fiery human rights lawyer, Femi Falana(SAN), in championing the cause of the Ogoni people, saying, even Ken Saro-Wiwa was known for his consistency.
The keynote speaker, Mr Femi Falana actually chronicled the circumstances surrounding the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his kinsmen on November 10, 1995, saying, they never committed the offence for which they were executed, and,therefore, deserve not only the recent pardon granted to them by the Federal Government but also exoneration and apology from the government.
Falana accused the state and Shell of masterminding the murder of four Ogoni sons, with the intent of roping in Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other Ogoni activists, saying, the execution of the Ogoni activists was premeditated.
According to him, when it was clear that the then Abacha military junta had already made up its mind to kill Ken Saro-Wiwa and others, the legal team defending them had no option than to withdraw from the trial in order not to give it legitimacy.
The human rights lawyer said the Ogoni people must be united today more than ever before to fight for their rights, stressing that the move for resumption of oil production in Ogoniland can only be justified when the ongoing cleanup of Ogoniland has attained an appreciable level.
He also applauded the siting of the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoniland, but insisted that the university must employ Ogoni people to justify its establishment.
Falana said the time has come for the people of the Niger Delta region to demand accountability from the political class at all levels of governance in the region, saying, they are constitutionally empowered to find out how the 13 percent derivation funds and other funds are utilised.
According to him, the three percent fund stipulated and specified in the Petroleum Industry Act(PIA) is supposed to go directly to oil and gas bearing communities in the Niger Delta.
He also sympathised with Umuechem people for what befell them during the military regime, and decried a situation where oil companies failed in providing social amenities to the people, in spite of benefiting from the oil and gas deposits in their land.
He promised to set up a think tank of lawyers to advocate and ensure that oil and gas host communities in the country, particularly in the Niger Delta are provided social amenities.
Also, human rights and environment campaigner and one of the organisers of the event, Mr Celestine Akpobari thanked Femi Falana, Dr Nimo Bassey and other dignitaries and participants for gracing the event, which he described as the celebration of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s legacies.
He said the rush for the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland does not make any economic sense, and likened it to mopping the floor while the taps are open.
At the event, the panel of discussants consisted of Prof KialeeNyiayana of the University of Port Harcourt; Prof Lucky Akaruese of the University of Port Harcourt; Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education; and Leader of Ogoni People’s Assembly, Rev Probel Williams, while the moderator was Dr EmemOkon.
The discussants gave a good account of themselves, as they did not only dissect the keynote address presented by Femi Falana, giving more insights into it, but also did justice to the questions posed to them by the moderator, bordering on Ken Saro-Wiwa and his legacies, among other issues.
By: Donatus
News
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