NIGER DELTA: Osinbajo preaches peace, military destroys 80 illegal refineries

The Nigerian military said on Monday that its troops have successfully destroyed about 80 oil refineries, which were allegedly built by some young people within the restive Niger Delta region.

According to Major Abubakar Abdullahi, Co-ordinator Joint Media Campaign Centre, Illicit refineries were used by those behind the act to process stolen crude in makeshift pipes and metal tanks hidden in oil-soaked clearings deep in the thick bush of the southern swampland.

But this in spite repeated assurances by the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, after his visit to the region, that government had plans to offer those behind the refining activities licences for mini-refining business status.

According to him, the move is aimed at occupying youths from the area better, restore peace and and get them away from the violence associated with people from the oil-rich region.

The government has equally been holding peace talks with militants to end attacks on oil production facilities, which cut Nigeria’s OPEC quota to the country by 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) as against 2.2 million bpd in 2016.

But the latest military crackdown on the refinering business, being the second since February when Osinbajo made the last official visit to the region, has been condemned by stakeholders from the region.

Abdullahi revealed, that “Troops of joint operation Delta Safe have intensified raid operations against the crude oil theft with destruction of 80 illegal refineries across Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States.

“Our troops would not relent until our mandate is achieved.”

He disagreed that the military action runs parallel to the promise made in February by the Acting President, who opted for non-military action against those behind the refinery business in the region.

A former militant, Freedom Benson Nigerian said the authorities were not being sincere in their promise of working for lasting peace in the region, despite all pretences.

” Niger Delta region question is still begging for solution and it still remains impoverished with widespread unemployment despite being the country’s oil hub,” Benson said.