‘Security agents, oil company workers involved in pipeline attacks’

The Ijaw Youths Council has said the federal government’s decision to deploy more troops to secure oil facilities in the Niger Delta will yield little or no positive result.

According to a statement released on Thursday, by the spokesperson for the IYC, Eric Omare, the government was advised to pursue a policy of closer engagement with the people of Niger Delta.

The IYC stated that such an engagement would help to achieve lasting peace and to ensure optimal crude oil and gas production.

The statement also alleged that workers of oil companies, security agents and contractors are often involved in attacks on oil facilities in the region. ‘The Federal Government cannot claim ignorance of these facts with the security apparatus at its disposal.’

“Instead of sending more troops who would come and commit more inconveniences to the people of the region such as intimidation, harassment of innocent villagers and unnecessary arrests, we call for quality intelligence gathering on the role of oil companies’ workers, contractors and security agents on the attacks on oil facilities.”

“From our experience of attack on oil facilities in the Niger Delta region, sending more troops to the region is not the solution to the problem. It is a matter of common knowledge that incidents of oil theft, kidnapping and attacks on oil pipelines have been on the increase despite the presence of military men.”

“The IYC has always maintained that in some cases security agents, contractors and even oil company workers are complicit in these illegalities going on in the Niger Delta region. Instead of sending more troops, we call for quality intelligence gathering on the role of oil companies’ workers, contractors and security agents on the attacks on oil facilities.”

“Ultimately, the solution to the problem of attacks on oil facilities lies in constructively engaging the people and communities of the Niger Delta where oil facilities are located.”

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