The Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in the Niger Delta on Tuesday said the delivery of two gunboats had boosted its fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The Commander 2 Brigade of the Army and JTF Sector 2, Brig.-Gen. Osasogie Uzamere, said this when he received two gunboats donated by Orient Petroleum and Ibeto Cement in Port Harcourt.
Uzamere said that shortage of gunboats and fast-assault craft had slow down their renewed strategy to effectively patrol the creeks round the clock.
He said the delivery of the gunboats would speed up response of soldiers to reported crime scenes and thereby discourage oil thieves and vandals from sabotaging the nation’s economy.
“The provision of these gunboats will significantly improve the efficiency of our troops in policing the Niger Delta terrain which is vast in size.
“Other organisations can also follow the footsteps of Orient Petroleum and Ibeto Cement in providing the JTF with equipments and logistics to enable us effectively discharge our duties,” he said.
Uzamere said it was the responsibility of every Nigerian, irrespectively of their class, to assist the JTF in the fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The Managing Director of Orient Petroleum, Mr Nnaemeka Nwawka, said the donation of the gunboats became necessary due to reported challenges faced by the JTF in carrying out their mandate.
He pledged that the company would provide more equipment to JTF to further improve its fight against illegal oil bunkering activities in the region.
