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Tag: JTF

  • Oil theft: EU, NNPC officials, JTF visit illegal refining sites

    Oil theft: EU, NNPC officials, JTF visit illegal refining sites

    The European Union, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) and the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe, on Friday visited an illegal refining site in Rivers, to inspect the impacts on the environment.

    The refinery, already destroyed by the JTF is located in  Ahoada  West Local Government Area of the state.

    The visit is for the EU, partners to assess things for themselves and how crude oil thieves set up illegal refineries and the adverse impact on the communities.

    Newsmen reports that the EU delegation comprises Ms Samuela Isopi, Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS; Ms Cecile Leeman Team Leader, Southern partnerships EU Commission.

    Others are Mr Richard Young, Head of Division West Africa; Mr Thomas Kieler, Political Adviser, EU delegation to Nigeria; Mr Jerome Riviere, Programme Manager EU delegation to Nigeria; Mr Juan Sell, Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria.

    Mr Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC, commended the JTF for their good work in the Niger Delta area, in safeguarding the nation’s oil and gas assets.

    He said Nigeria would soon curtail the breaches, and that they came with the development partners to see how much work was going on and how they could help to bring sanity, and restore oil production and security for everyone.

    “It cannot happen unless we are able to work together with all the reports; we are also ready for our partners to see things for themselves and the efforts that are being made to curtail the situation.

    “I commend the troops on the ground, working to ensure that the nation’s oil and gas sector is secured.

    “We believe by August we will be able to bring down the menace to a minimal level. It is not good for the community, it has a huge negative impact on the environment.

    “Today the livelihood of the people here are impacted, people doing the business are not from the community, they are actually from other places.

    “We are working with the community to take this out so that they can go back to their normal way of life.

    “We are happy we are here today to see things for ourselves and our partners,” he said.

    On his part, Rear Adm. Aminu Hassan, the JTF Commander, said within the period of three months, the taskforce destroyed more than 2,000 illegal refineries in the area.

    He said: “In one site here you can get between 50 to 100 composite units where everyone is operating; just like a market, everybody is doing his illicit business in one market. So, that is how they operate.

    “Within a refining site, you can get hundreds of units, everyone doing his own, within a week or thereabout you can succeed in destroying thousands.

    “Mechanically we are destroying their machines which they are very fast in constructing.

    “If you really want to suppress them, you must be faster than them, work ahead of them, that is why we introduced this equipment, you will be on top of the situation to be ahead of them,” he said.

    He said that the community was of great support to the task force.

    “So, to a great extent we are getting support from the community, we are urging them to also avail us with more information,” he said.

    He urged those indulging in such illegality to desist from such and find legitimate business, to better their lives.

    Also, Mr Mathew Baldwin, Deputy Director General, European Union Commission, said they were on fact finding mission, adding that oil theft and illegal refining remained a big problem.

    He commended the JTF and the NNPC, for the great work done to salvage and restore the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

    “We are here to find and understand the problem, if the production is used for the local market and if most of the production is going into the international market.

  • JTF intercepts migrating herders in their hundreds

    JTF intercepts migrating herders in their hundreds

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) has intercepted a large number of herdsmen, believed to be Fulani, who have the intention of settling down in Kwara.

    The JTF is made up of personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Army and the Police.

    In a press release on Wednesday in Ilorin, signed by NSCDC Spokesman, Mr Babawale Afolabi, the intercepted herdsmen were in large number.

    Afolabi said the herders, who were stopped at Erinle-Offa axis, were with some of their cattle and were heading towards the end of Kwara- Osun state boundary.

    He said the herders were on their way to Ajase-Ipo, a town in lfelodun Local Government Area of Kwara.

    “On Aug. 4, suspected Fulani herdsmen in their hundreds were intercepted at Erinle, a border town in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara,” Afolabi said.

    He said that the herdsmen and their cows were on their way to Ajase Ipo, a town in Kwara with a large concentration of Fulani.

    “The suspected herdsmen were later led to Ajase-Ipo by the JTF where further background checks and profiling were been carried out by the appropriate security operatives,” Afolabi said.

    He, however, said that the herdsmen had been allowed to remain in Ajase-Ipo pending the time background checks would be concluded.

    Afolabi said that more security personnel had been deployed in and around the town.

  • Hunters, civilian JTF to get N352m in fight against Boko Haram

    Hunters, civilian JTF to get N352m in fight against Boko Haram

    Authorities in Maiduguri have approved N352 million for the operations of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and hunters, in the fight against insurgency in the state, the state information commissioner, Babakura Abba-Jato said on Thursday.

    Mr. Abba-Jato noted that the approval was given at the first state executive council meeting of 2021, presided over by governor Babagana Zulum.

    The Northeastern state has been under Boko Haram siege for over a decade, with the country’s security failing to contain their continual onslaught.

    The governor has at times accused the military of shirking in their responsibilities to protect citizens. He once aired in confidence in local militias and hunters to better combat the insurgents if given the needed support.

    Other approvals also given at the meeting, according to the commissioner, included the rehabilitation of Maiduguri – Damboa road at the cost of N658m and the extension of an ongoing Benisheikh township road project at the cost of N231 million.

    He said the sum of N237 was approved for the construction of Ramat – Wulari road and drainage in Maiduguri metropolis.

    The commissioner said that the council also approved N1.6 billion for the construction of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Borno State University Teaching Hospital.

    Construction of 33 classrooms of two-storey mega school building in Buratai village, Biu Local Government, was also approved for the sum of N253 million, while the sum of N84 million was approved for the purchase laboratory equipment and reagents for technical college, Njimtilo, the commissioner said.A

  • JTF, Navy visit Jonathan in Otuoke to ascertain level of damage

    JTF, Navy visit Jonathan in Otuoke to ascertain level of damage

    The Joint Task Force (JFT), code named Operation Delta Safe, and the Nigerian Navy on Monday visited former President Goodluck Jonathan’s residence in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    The visit was to ascertain the level of damage following attack on the former president’s residence by unknown gunmen on Christmas eve.

    They said the visit was also to find necessary solution to prevent reoccurrence of such attacks.

    In attendance were the JTF Commander, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Saidu Garba, the Commander Nigerian Navy Ship Soroh, Commodore Felix Esekhile amongst others.

    In his remarks, Jonathan urged them to be thorough in their investigations.

    “Be thorough as you seek to bring the perpetrators to book and ensure that such mindless attack do not happen again in any part of the country,” Jonathan said.

  • Joint Task Force destroys over 300 illegal refineries in Niger Delta

    Joint Task Force destroys over 300 illegal refineries in Niger Delta

    Rear Adm. Apochi Suleiman, the Commander, Joint Task Force codenamed: “Operation Delta Safe” (OPDS) says no fewer than 300 illegal refineries have been destroyed in the ongoing operation.

    Suleiman made this known to newsmen on Wednesday at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), Warri Naval base.

    He said that a suspected militant and member of a “kill and bury” gang identified as Gift Apollo, who allegedly killed a soldier in August was also apprehended during the operations.

    The task force commander said that the operation tagged: “OPERATION 777” was launched by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin on Oct. 10 and accordingly activated by the OPDS.

    Suleiman said that it was to further reinvigorate the operations of the task force to disrupt activities of the criminal elements ahead of the yuletide and the 2019 general elections.

    The commander said the “OPERATION 777” had made remarkable achievement in meeting its objectives.

    “Cases of illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism and associated criminalities do increase during major festivities and election years.

    “This necessitated the launching of `OPERATION 777’ by the CDS and activated by the OPDS.

    “The `OPERATION 777’ has made huge achievement as over 300 illegal refineries, 156 locally manufactured boats, 1,085 surface tanks have been destroyed.

    “Additionally, 15 barges, 10 tanker trucks, 31 vehicles, 45 speed boats, 16 outboard engines, 41 pumping machines, 15 generating sets and 76 other items have been impounded.

    “It is also worthy to mention that six different types of arms and over 100 items of munitions were recovered during the period in focus.

    “Importantly, a wanted militant and member of `kill and bury’ gang named Gift Apollo was arrested during the operations.

    “The group was responsible for the attack and death of our soldier deployed in Abua/Odua sometime in August,” he said.

    Suleiman said that the JTF also conducted anti-illegal bunkering/anti-illegal refining operations at Okaki Community in Bayelsa in which over 100 reservoirs and an estimated 210 metric tonnes of Automated Gasoline Oil were destroyed.

    He also said that the JTF rescued seven Nigerians maintenance workers of Agip Oil Company who were kidnapped by gunmen on Oct. 5 in Azuzuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    “OPERATION 777 is simultaneously conducted with OPERATION CROCODILE SMILE 3.

    “We are collaborating and sharing actionable intelligence as both operation is meant to curb criminal activities in the Niger Delta,” he said.

    Suleiman called on the law abiding citizens in the region to go about their legitimate businesses, assuring them that the JTF would continue to protect them and the environment.

     

  • JTF, Shell deny coercing Bayelsa community to endorse spill report

    The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta and oil major, Shell on Monday denied allegations of coercing the leadership of Aghoro 1 community in Bayelsa to sign a disputed report on oil spillage.

    A disagreement in the areas impacted by an oil leak on the Trans Ramos Pipeline within Shell’s oilfield at Aghoro communities in Bayelsa has stalled the release of a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) report of the oil spill.

    Community leaders, who participated in the JIV to determine the cause of the spill reportedly refused to sign the report.

    The refusal was attributed to wide disparity between the impacted areas claimed by Shell and the community.

    Mr Victor Akamu, Chairman of the Community Development Committee of Aghoro 1, had alleged that Shell connived with the JTF to force and intimidation, to compel the community to sign the report.

    Akamu told News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Yenagoa that JTF summoned the community’s leadership to Yenagoa on Aug. 23 to force them to sign the JIV report but that the leaders refused to sign.

    He said the team from Aghoro were labelled pipeline vandals and were profiled into the database of the JTF.

    “We were taken to a room where detailed profiles of all of us were taken, including our finger prints, biometric details and our photographs.

    “We were temporarily held down for almost three hours profiling before we were eventually told to go.

    “I wanted to ask if it is part of JTF’s job to force a community to sign a JIV report.

    “Shell should stop using JTF to intimidate our community. For the past 20 years, there is no history of pipeline vandalism.

    “This leak was due to a ruptured pipeline, due to corrosion yet they call us vandals, it is unacceptable,” Akamu said.

    However, reacting to the allegation of intimidation, Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, Media Relations Manager of Shell, denied use of force to compel the company’s host communities to sign the JIV report.

    “Yes, there are issues with the JIV report. The representative of Aghoro 1 community did not agree with a portion of the JIV report but we have not used force.

    “SPDC does not coerce parties to sign JIV reports,” Odugbesan said.

    Similarly, the Commander of the JTF, Rear Adm. Apochi Suleiman, dismissed the allegations of intimidation made by Aghoro community.

    He said that the military waded into the crisis to encourage both parties to adopt dialogue to resolve their differences to avert breach of peace.

    “We conduct our duties in compliance with our rules of engagement. We invited the parties to mediate and encourage them to dialogue and use the established channels of resolving conflicts.

    “I told them to resolve their differences on the negotiating table so that the operation is not disrupted. Our mandate is to safeguard oil facilities and we do not want the disagreement to degenerate further.

    “We got reports that some persons were disrupting ongoing repairs of the ruptured pipelines and that was why some people were profiled.

    “I was emphatic that we cannot tolerate anyone taking the law into his hands,” Suleiman said.

    NAN investigations showed that the leak, which occurred on May 17 this year, discharged about 1,114 barrels of crude oil into the environment and polluted the Ramos River and farmlands.

    The draft JIV report said the 1,114 barrels of crude impacted a total land area of 113.3 hectares in Aghoro 1 but the community claimed that the impacted area was 1825 hectares.

     

  • JTF to partner volunteer groups, community leaders to fight crime in Bayelsa

    JTF to partner volunteer groups, community leaders to fight crime in Bayelsa

    Commander of Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Apoche Suleiman, says the force will partner volunteers and community leaders in Bayelsa to rid Niger Delta of criminals.

    Suleiman made the pledge when the Chairman, Bayelsa Volunteers, Mr Lucky Asanakpo and the local government coordinators of the group paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Yenagoa.

    He said the military alone could not undertake the onerous task of fighting crime without the positive input of agencies like the volunteers and community leaders.

    According to him, most of the crimes are community based, perpetrated by persons who live among the people.

    The commander assured of JTF willingness to collaborate with the volunteers to curb crime in the state.

    In his remarks, Asanakpo said the visit was to inform the commander and his field officers of the existence of the volunteers.

    He said it was also to seek strategic ways of partnership to safeguard government installations, lives and property in Bayelsa.

    The volunteer chairman said since he assumed office two months ago, he had tried to fine tune and redefine activities of the agency in line with the present political environment in the state.

    He assured the JTF commander that his team would not disappoint having been trained to uphold integrity, good moral standards, commitment and loyalty to the present administration.

    Asanakpo said the volunteers would not be involved in any act capable of bringing shame and disrepute to JTF in particular and the state government at large.

    He observed that it was only in an atmosphere of peace, devoid of crime that investors and tourists could be encouraged to invest in the state.

    The Bayelsa State Volunteers is a security outfit established by the state government in 2003 and backed by law.

     

  • Boko Haram: Suicide bomber kills five Civilian JTF members in Borno

    Boko Haram suicide bomber on Tuesday attacked a checkpoint in troubled Borno State, killing five members of a youth vigilante group.

    Five persons were also injured in the attack.

    In a statement, the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, North East Zonal Office, Maiduguri, Abdulkadir Ibrahim said, “Five members of Civilian JTF were killed in suicide bomb blast in Madarari, outskirts of Konduga town in Konduga local government area, Borno State at a checkpoint before entering Konduga.”He added that, “Five people were injured in the incident which occurred when the suicide bomber detonated the concealed IED as he was being searched at the checkpoint.”

  • JTF stops burning illegal refineries

    The Joint Military Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, says it has adopted environmentally friendly methods in combating oil theft and illegal refining in the region

    Brig.-Gen Kevin Aligbe, Land Component Commander of the joint force code-named “Operation Delta Safe,” disclosed this on Sunday in Yenagoa.

    Alighe said that troops of the command had introduced the use of swamp buggies in destroying illegal refineries as opposed to setting the camps ablaze.

    He said the force used special equipment to crush the accessories and materials used at illegal refining sites.

    He further said that the method had made it economically unviable for such sites to spring up again after raids by the joint force.

    The commandant noted that the adverse impact of pollution caused by illegal refineries was enormous.

    He commander said that some people’s perception that the destruction of illegal refineries was doing damage to the environment was erroneous.

    Aligbe said it was the processes in the illegal refining that actually degraded the Niger Delta environment.

    According to him, the crude distillation process used by illegal refineries is inefficient and causes a pollution of the environment.

    He said that only 30 per cent of the volume of crude stolen by illegal refiners is converted to products.

    The commandant said the remaining 70 per cent was wasted and dispersed in the surrounding environment near the camps.

    “Our operations are always carried out with the environment in mind; we deploy methods that are environmentally friendly and safe and we do not burn stolen crude as believed in some quarters.

    “In fact, burning of products either refined or crude is out of question because it is the evidence that is required to prosecute the suspects that are arrested during raids of illegal refineries.

    “We seize the products and after using them as evidence they are disposed in accordance with the oil industry safety regulations.

    “We are conscious of the fact that the environment sustains the people’s livelihood.

    “The damage that illegal refineries do to the environment is colossal and that is part of the reasons we are fighting to stamp it out.

    “The operators are fighting back and we remain resolute,” he said.

    Aligbe noted that the joint military force was committed to its mandate of safeguarding oil facilities and preventing sundry criminalities in the region.

    The commandant said that the aim was to pave way for economic progress and solicited the support of Niger Delta people.

     

  • Arrested militant, Oyawerikumor Peregbabofa leader killed in ambush – JTF

    The Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), on Friday confirmed that a militant leader in its custody, Oyawerikumor Peregbabofa, popularly known in the creeks of the Niger Delta as Karaowei, was later killed in an ambush.

    This was revealed by JTF’s Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Maj. Ibrahim Abdullahi in a statement on Friday.

    Abdullahi said the militant, who was apprehended on Thursday, was killed in an ambush laid by his fighters to rescue him.

    Abdullahi in a statement said: “After his arrest, Mr. Karowei confessed to several criminal acts and led troops to his camp to recover the cache of arms and ammunition in his possession as well as to persuade other members of his gang to surrender.

    “However, in a twist of events, Karowei’s recalcitrant group laid an ambush and attacked the Task Force troops in a gun battle at his camp deep in the forest.

    “This was in a bid to rescue Karowei from own troops. The superior firepower, resilience and gallantry of own troops countered this snap attack which resulted in the death of several of Karowei’s henchmen and the kingpin, Karowei who tried to rejoin his cohorts.”

    The statement further listed the atrocities committed by the deceased militant leader, saying the Commander, ODS, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, commended the Burutu and Ekeremor communities in Delta and Bayelsa States for their cooperation during the operation.

    It added: “This operation was aimed at tackling the security challenges posed to safety of lives and critical oil and gas facilities in the region. Consequently, a seven-day clearance operation was initiated by the Commander of JTF, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, to sanitize the region of militants, cultists, sea robbers, kidnappers and other criminals.

    “During the operation, precisely on Thursday, 11 January 2018, a notorious militant leader Peregbakumo Oyawerikumo also known as ‘Karowei’ and his criminal gang were arrested.

    “It could be recalled that Mr. Karowei and his criminal gang abducted four British Missionaries on 13th October 2017 in Burutu local government area of Delta State which led to the unfortunate death of one of the Britons, Late Mr. Ian Squire.

    “Karowei and his gang were also responsible for several abductions/kidnappings, robberies and raping of innocent women in the region including unprovoked attacks on military locations in Delta and Bayelsa States.

    “Also on 7th January 2018, Karowei and his gang attacked own troops at Bolu Ndoro forest which led to the death of four military OPDS personnel.

    “The Commander, Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, deeply appreciates the support of the locals within communities in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State and Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in finally uprooting this notorious criminal, who in conjunction with his gang had constituted serious security menace around the general area.

    “The Commander Joint Task Force also wishes to seek additional selfless support from law-abiding citizens to uproot all criminals causing mayhem within the Niger Delta.

    “He urges all to go about their legitimate businesses as the waterways are now safe and secure. Furthermore, he assures the local communities of the Task Force’s commitments to stem all criminalities in the Niger Delta in line with the mandate of the Chief of Defence Staff as well as strategic expectations of the Joint Task Force.”