JTF troops escort shipping in a Suncraft(Singapore) gunboat with three 12.7mm weapon stations..fore, aft and starboard
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
6 December, 2012
The Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in the Niger Delta said on Thursday it
impounded 700 boats, barges, vessels and trucks in nearly 3,000 operations in the area. Brig.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Commander of the 2 Brigade and Sector Two of the JTF, disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
Buratai said the vessels, boats, barges
and trucks were impounded because they were freighting illegally refined
petroleum products to unknown
destinations in the area. He said the impounded vessels and arrested suspects had been handed over to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for prosecution.The commander said JTF succeeded in the operation because of the complementary efforts of other security agencies operating in the area.
“In the past 11 months, the JTF has
carried out close to 3,000 operations and impounded and destroyed close to 700 boats, barges, vessels and trucks involved in various acts of oil theft. “We have joined hands with the various
security agencies in Rivers and Bayelsa
states to rid the states of criminals.
“Our anti-kidnap operations have been
very successful; we have arrested a
number of criminals, kidnappers, armed
robbers and arms and ammunition have
been recovered; the rate of armed
robbery and kidnapping has drastically reduced. “Security is very important; without security, development will be hampered and the JTF Sector 2 and 2 Brigade is up to the task and will continue to maintain the required security.
“I call on the general public to continue to give us timely information to enable us to continue the fight against these vices so that normal activities of law abiding citizens will be protected.” Buratai said the task force had intensified its efforts to stop oil theft,
kidnapping and sundry crimes in the
region.
How many prosecutions and convictions?
Based on what has transpired over the corresponding period, that is the purview of the EFCC who should be able to tell Nigerians how many prosecutions and convictions have been effected or secured.
Irrespective of who’s domain it is, arrests with out prosecutions, seizures without investigations are the equivalent of leaving a pot of honey on the table and running round and round chasing ants.
And why EFCC? Isn’t this the something for the police who are a constituent part of the JTF
The necessity for prosecutions and convictions is not nearly in doubt. What I have just implied, and Henry can tell you so as well, is that these prosecutions fall within the purview of the EFCC alone. Bunkering is an economic crime.
The NSCDC who are charged with protecting national infrastructure also typically hold onto people who vandalise oil industry infrastructure.
The JTF do not dabble into those realms at all. Even seized barges and products are transferred to the EFCC.
Fair point