–Offers One Hundred Thousand Naira To Anyone With Reliable Information That Will Lead To The Discovery Of Functional Oil Bunkering Sites
Emohua local government chairman, Dr Chidi Lloyd in continuation of the statewide clampdown on illegal oil bunkering activities which has been identified as the major cause of soot pandemic in Rivers State, on Thursday led a combined team of security personnel and the local government taskforce to raid three functional illegal petroleum refining sites in Rumuodogo – Odegu, Emohua LGA.
The council chairman and his team also discovered a waterfront used as loading depot by illegal petroleum refiners in Oduoha-Emohua, where boats used to transport illegally refined petroleum products were intercepted and destroyed by the joint taskforce.
Dr. Lloyd during the raid effected the arrest of the youth leader of Oduoha community and two others for allegedly aiding oil bunkering activities in the community but later released the three suspects to the paramount ruler of the community on personal recognitions.
Meanwhile, Dr Chidi Lloyd has offered one hundred thousand naira to anyone with reliable information that will lead to the discovery of any functional illegal petroleum refining site within Emohua local government area.
Speaking with BBC and AIT correspondents who joined him to the discover the oil bunkering sites situated in a riverbank between Rumuodogo community in Emohua LGA and Harry’s town in Degema LGA, the council chairman assured that the government will ensure that any whistle-blower who provides reliable information to the taskforce is not disclosed to the perpetuators of illegal oil bunkering and the public, in order not to endanger their lives.
Acknowledging the appreciable progress recorded in the war against illegal oil bunkering activities in Rivers State, Dr. Lloyd commended the state governor, H.E Nyesom Wike for championing the war but opined that the war requires the full involvement of the federal government, to complement the efforts of the governor of Rivers State, with a view to ending the ravaging soot pandemic in Rivers State.
He however warned that the government will not hesitate to confiscate any private property, including buildings and land used for illegal oil bunkering activities within Emohua local government area.
The council chairman further commended the effort of the Nigeria police, the department of state services and the Nigeria security and civil defence corps in the fight against oil bunkering activities, promising to continue to provide the necessary logistics to the security agencies, as well as the local government vigilante services.
Bright Jossy Elendu
Chief Press Secretary To The Chairman,
Emohua Local Govt. Area.
20/1/2022
