By Andrew Utulu
Correspondent, Lagos
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, Tunde Ogunsakin, has expressed the readiness of the police in the state and the officials of Inspector General of Police Task Force on Pipeline Vandalism to end the incessant destruction of pipelines in the state.
The police commissioner thus warned those who engage on oil pipeline vandalism to desist or have themselves to blame.
The CP gave the warning during a courtesy call to the Rivers State Regional Office of Pipeline and Product Marketing Company.
The CP, who was received by a delegation led by Regional Manager, Bassey Emmanuel, stated that the era of turning blind eyes to the activities of pipeline vandals in Rivers State was over.
Ogunsakin also warned unscrupulous members of the society, who indulge in “this act of economic sabotage” to desist from such or face the full wrath of the law.
The Rivers State police boss also stated that the police in the state are determined to protect human and other resources.
His words: “Nobody would be treated as a sacred cow, vowing that whoever is arrested in connection with any act of economic sabotage, especially in the area of pipeline vandalism , would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The PPMC Regional Manager, while speaking during the visit , decried the activities of vandals in the region and pointed out that pipeline vandalism has greatly affected petroleum supply in the region.
He stated that the region has had to “ unnecessarily spend huge amount of money on repairs as a result of the activities of pipeline vandals at all the depots under the region.
Emmanuel also condemned the series of attacks, suffered by officials of the company from heavily armed vandals, who, according to him, have constituted a major challenge to the petroleum industry in Nigeria.
The PPMC boss however expressed his confidence in the ability of the police in Rivers State under the leadership of Tunde Ogunsakin and promised that PPMC would also support the police .