Anambra communities cry out as oil thieves operate without hindrance

Maduako Igbokwe I Sunday, August 13, 2023

 

AWKA, Nigeria – Oil producing communities in Anambra State have lamented about the activities of oil thieves which has resulted in the loss of 9 million litres of petroleum products daily.

The communities affected are Ogwuanocha , Ogwuikpele , Umunankwo and Osamalla in Ogbaru Local Government council of the state. One of the Town Union’s leaders Prince Chris Okwuosa; who spoke with our correspondent in Awka said illegal oil exploration has been on in the last three years.

According to him, oil thieves are becoming unchallenged due to the activities of gunmen who have been collecting huge sums of money from the companies under the guise of giving them protections.

He said, though the proactive measures by the affected communities and the Anambra Ministry Of Homeland Matters has been able to dislodge several camps of the gunmen.

According to him, the level of environmental degradation as a result of the illegal operations has been very damaging to aquatic lives.

“Our farm lands have been polluted in the process. The operations have been on for more than three years now and they do not have the government backing to take our oil away and government appears not to be aware of this.

“Everyday over 20 trucks carry 45,000 litres of oil products each, they come to Ogwuikpele and Ogwuanocha to steal our oil and they pass through Umunankwo and Osamalla and use batches to carry those products through the water ways of Ogakuba and Ochuche to those doing bunkering and mini refineries in Oguta in Imo state”he said.

He however appealed to both the state and federal governments to arrest the situation and bring the culprits to book.

In what appears to be a bold step in tackling the activities of the oil thieves, governor Charles Soludo has charged the Nigerian Navy and other security organisations in the state to join forces with his government to fight the criminals.

Soludo gave the charge when the recently appointed Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.

According to Soludo, there is increased need for Navy presence in the State because of the oil theft and bunkering going on in Ogwuikpele area of the state.

“It has become an existential threat in the South east, but with your strategic appointment, there is this voice, to uproot the criminals and profile them for who they are.

“We deserve to have a liveable and prosperous Anambra State”, he said.The governor praised the navy and indeed, all security agencies operating in the state, for the sacrifices, describing their jobs as a calling that should be respected.

Speaking earlier, Vice Admiral Ogalla recalled that the Naval Outpost in Onitsha was established with assistance from the state government, assuring that they would redouble their efforts to do more to ensure that peace returns to the region.

He decried a situation where sit at home persists and criminal gangs parade themselves as people who dictate what happens as an aberration with the tendency of drawing the region backward.