Pipeline Vandalization: Defence Minister Warns Military Officers Against Conniving With Criminals

…Promises To Intensify Patrol On Waterways

By Francis Sadhere

The Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen Mansur Dan-Ali has warned that any military officer caught conniving with criminals in the country will be  severely dealt with, just as he assured that henceforth the Federal Government will intensify patrol on the waterways in the Niger Delta region.

The minister of defense gave this warning today at Egwa 11
platform in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State when he and other top military personnel during his on-the-spot assessment to the oil facilities destroyed by unknown militant groups in the State.

The minister who was flanked by Service Chiefs and other top
military personnel to the explosion site expressed displeasure over
the incidence.

According the minister, the Federal Government will deal ruthlessly
with any military personnel found conniving with criminals in the
nation, adding that the military has no business in conniving with
criminals as the Federal Government is ready to take care of their
needs.

He also promised that the Federal Government is going to empower the armed forces both with up to date equipment that will enable them fight criminals in the state, especially militant who go about
destroying national assets.

While noting that the militants used improvised explosives to carry
out their act, the Defense Minister said that all oil facilities in
the Niger Delta region will be adequately protected henceforth, adding that the Federal Government will ensure that military personnel are stationed in all oil facilities.

He also promised to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to
book, adding that the military is fully equipped to fish out those
involved in the wanton destruction of the nation’s assets.

He said; “The Joint Taskforce (JTF) told me that they are on the
trail of the suspects and must get those behind the act. We will
intensify our patrol and also equipped the military to enable them to
effectively curtail the criminals.”

Earlier during the guard of honour at the 3 Battalion, Effurun, Delta,
the minister promised the officers that henceforth all personnel will
be adequately taken care of and that all their allowances will be
fully paid to them as and at when due.

He however, warned the military that there was no room for laziness in the armed forces, adding that everybody should be up and doing as the military will not hesitate to show anybody who was not ready to work for the nation the nation the way out.

The Minister also warned that the military will no longer tolerate any act of human rights abuses being perpetrated by its personnel in the cause of carrying out their duties, stressing human rights activists are monitoring their every step.

“Your allowances have been paid up till date, if there is any problem
with the allowances; it has to do with the Treasury Single Account
(TSA). This government does not have room for laziness and connivance, whatever you are commissioned to do, do it well and do not take law into your hands. Always observe the norms of the professionalism of the armed forces and abide by it,’’ he said.

Also, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas said the navy was collaborating with other agencies and community leaders to furnish them with information to curtail vandalism.

He said; “When you have a level of sabotage, the law will take its
course. The Navy as an institution does not have the power to
prosecute, we are only going to fish them out and hand them over to
the appropriate authority.

“Basically, the three pipelines affected, two are carrying crude oil
while the other one carries gas. Federal Government is doing quite a
lot in terms of intervention to ensure we maintain a credible presence in the creeks.”

Ibas said pipelines surveillance was quite enormous, expensive and
required huge resources adding that adequate information from the
society was vital to checking the menace.

On the minister’s entourage to the inspection site included: Chief of
Defence Staff (CDS), Maj-Gen Abayomi Olonisakin,  Comander,  Joint Taskforce “Operation PULO SHIELD’’, Maj-Gen Alani Okunlola.

Others were: Lt-Col Igwe Omoke, Commander, 3 Battalion, Effurun,
Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship(NNS), Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed among others.