Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro, has faulted the way and manner the military deployd to the Niger Delta region destroy illegal refineries and their products, saying their action was polluting the environment and putting the lives of the locals in danger.
Otuaro said the menace of spills from vessels with illegal oil allegedly destroyed by security agents required national discourse for solution, as such activities had caused frightening effects on the aquatic environment.
Otuaro, who chairs the Delta State Advocacy Committee Against Vandalism of Oil and Gas Facilities, made these observation on Wednesday last week after embarking on a helicopter-driven aerial view of sites impacted by spills from destroyed vessels in Warri North and Warri South-West LGA of the state.
“The Delta State Advocacy Committee Against Vandalism of Oil and Gas Facilities, set up by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has the mandate of ensuring that the oil production environment is safe.
“We heard complaints that the security agents have contributed to environmental despoliation resulting from spills via their destruction of illegal crude oil vessels.
“I was at Olero and Macaraba areas and what we saw is worrisome. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good,” Otuaro said, while speaking to protesters who had heard of his coming and ambushed him at a stopover at Okerenkoko in Warri South-West LGA.
The Deputy Governor said, “The statutory responsibility of the security agents is to protect the oil facilities and prevent illegal bunkering. Their alleged destruction/explosion of illegal crude oil vessels in the waterways with concomitant despoliation of the environment that supports livelihood of the people has worsened environmental hazards and the style does not conform to global best practices.
“I think the security agents alleged to be exploding these illegal crude oil vessels think they have no choice or alternative to what they are said to be doing. But I think the solution would require a national discourse that would involve them.
“The practice is unacceptable. But I urge you to be patient as government prepares to find a resolution to this environmental problem. We need to think through this problem that has obviously endangered and pauperised the people.”
Some inscriptions on placards carried by the angry protested include; “Military, Stop the Burning (of illegal crude oil badges)”, “Our environment Is No Longer Safe for Healthy Living”, “Stop Pollution of Our Environment”, “Our Environment Is Our Pride”, “Federal Government Save Our Environment”, “We Need Freedom”, “Government, Intervene In Our Environment”.
Speaking on effect of spills from explosions of illegal oil vessels, Ebiasuode Aramisi, a 65-year-old woman, said: “The burning of the illegal oil vessels have greatly affected us by way of polluting the rivers beyond normal. We can no longer fish. We are hungry as our source livelihood is destroyed/polluted. Federal Government save us.”
Chairman of Okerenkoko Federated community, Kingsley Oturubo had noted that the “spills from Crude oil vessels burnt by Security agents, into waters had polluted waters such that fishing activity was no longer productive. The situation has caused untold hardship that can make a people go into extinction.”
