There is an increased presence of security operatives in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) jetty in Okrika Mainland, Okrika local government area of Rivers State.
The development may not be unconnected with the recent tragic incident, which allegedly occured at the facility, leading to the killing of unconfirmed number of person who came to siphon petroleum products.
The jetty, which is operated by the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), alao serves lifting point for by-products of the Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited (IEPCL), especially Crack C5, popularly called aviation fuel.
Security operatives presently guarding the facility included those from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, the Six Division Garrison of the Nigerian Army and Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) among others.
However, residents of Ibuluya-Okrika, the host community of the NNPCL jetty, no incident leading to casualties has occured at the facility in recent times, suggesting that incident hav occured in the creeks.
Speaking with newsmen yesterday in Okrika Mainland, an indigene of the community, John Iyo said, “Where we are is Ibuluya community and in fact in the whole of Okrika Mainland, nothing like that happened. It might have happened in another part of Okrika.”
Another resident, Madam Felicia Jacob said, “I am from Ibuluya community; that kind of thing didn’t happen. We did not experience anything like that. As you can see us, we are drinking. We only heard that something happened but we don’t know the exact place.”
Also speaking to journalists at the entrance of the jetty, IEPCL’s coordinator of Pipeline Surveillance, Major Fidelis Akandu (Rtd), alleged that community folks rupture oil pipelines and lay pipes up to 100 meters under water in order to steal petroleum products.
Akandu insisted that the incident is not occur at the facility and challenged those claiming that people died at the jetty to provide their corpses.
“Since Monday because I have been here because the company has a product they are lifting into that ship there. The Indorama pipeline started from the fence of the Port Harcourt Refinery to the NNPCL jetty here. I have been here from Monday till now and I am surprised to hear such story.
“It is disheartening that people are not saying things they was they are. Indorama has what they call Crack C5 and it is one of the by-products of Indorama. When that is generated, they store it and later deliver it. They use it later as aviation fuel and all that.
“Whenever they want to transfer that by-product, all the whole community will come to steal the product. They rupture the pipes and can lay pipes up to 100 meters away from the Indorama pipeline, just to get the product and sell.
“If even it was one person that died, please, where is the corpse? I have been here since Monday. I sleep here and I take my bath here. Where are the corpses? You have seen the distance from the jetty to this place; if somebody died here, won’t I be able to see the corpse. I have access to the jetty and I have access to even enter the ship.
“The point I want to raise here is that the aviation fuel is dangerous if you attempt to siphon it. If you are a thief and you got injured in the course of stealing, will you blame the owner of the house? There was nothing like death here. It is possible that the incident happened elsewhere and not in this jetty,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Rivers State has said it’s operatives discovered four corpses in the creeks close to the jetty, linked to the tragic incident in Okrika Mainland.
NSCDC spokesman in the state, Olufemi Ayodele, who disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt, gave the names of the deceased persons as Taribo Levia, Ogoloma Tamunoene Fred, Amiso, and Belema Siyerminma from Ngabiri.
The statement reads in part, “The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Rivers State Command, has provided an update on the reported incident at Jetty Creeks, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, where some persons were allegedly involved in an attempt to scoop or recover petroleum products.
“Following the incident, an undercover team of the NSCDC Rivers State Command conducted further assessment and surveillance of the affected area and was able to sight four (4) corpses believed to be connected to the incident. The development has, however, necessitated further verification of the identities of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
“One of the victims earlier identified was Taribo Levia, whose remains have reportedly been buried according to the traditional customs of the community. Other deceased persons reportedly sighted include Ogoloma Tamunoene Fred, Amiso, and Belema Siyerminma from Ngabiri.
“The Command notes that the initial casualty figures circulating in the aftermath of the incident were not fully verified and may have been overstated. The Command is therefore relying on information obtained through its ongoing field assessment and investigation to establish the actual number of victims.
“It is also important to clarify that security agencies, including the Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) Joint Task Force, have been providing security coverage around the facility. However, the location where the incident occurred is considerably distant from the Joint Task Force’s designated Area of Responsibility (AOR), which is relevant to understanding the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The Rivers State Commandant noted that the NSCDC has commenced further investigation and information gathering in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to establish the immediate and remote causes of the incident, ascertain the identities of all victims and determine whether any persons remain unaccounted for.
“The Command in strong terms warn members of the public against vandalism, illegal tampering with petroleum infrastructure, unauthorised access to oil facilities and the dangerous practice of scooping petroleum products. Such activities are not only criminal but can result in fatalities, serious injuries and environmental damage.
“Dr Dennis Reuben further urges members of oil-producing and riverine communities to desist from engaging in activities capable of endangering their lives and to promptly report suspicious activities around critical national assets to security agencies.
“We remain committed to protecting Critical National Assets and Infrastructure in Rivers State and will continue to work with sister security agencies and relevant stakeholders to safeguard lives and property.”
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