By Igoniko Oduma, Yenagoa
Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5,Benin, Musa Daura, has said that continuous breaking of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta was causing health challenges to the people of the region.
He spoke on Friday during his familiarization visit to Maj. Gen Emmanuel Atewe, Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the region code-named ‘Operation Pulo Shield’ at the security outfit’s headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
He expressed concern that the activities of pipeline vandals and oil thieves were polluting the environment and affecting the revenue profile of the country, stressing that illegal oil bunkering could result in epidemic.
Daura, however, commended the task force for waging war against oil theft and related vices in the region.
He said the Nigeria Police Force would always support the JTF to succeed in its mandate to protect the economic interest of the Federal Government in the Niger Delta.
He said, “Apart from the huge economic loss to the nation, the continuous rupturing and breaking of oil pipeline causes a lot of health injury to the people of the region. It also pollutes the environment and this could result in the out break of epidemic in the region”.
The AIG called on stakeholders in the region to support the fight against oil theft and related crimes to create a conducive environment for oil companies to do their legitimate businesses in the region.
On the forthcoming 2015 general elections, Daura enjoined security agencies to synergise for effective policing during and after the elections.
In his remarks, Atewe thanked the AIG for the visit, saying it was timely and would boost the morale of the troops under the command.
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