Governor Ibrahim Idris, Please Save Koton-Karfe From Oil Thieves

Daily Trust (Abuja)
OPINION
December 12, 2003
Posted to the web December 12, 2003

For nearly four years now, oil thieves and bunkerers have been operating at
Okpaka and Jamata villages both near Koton-Karfe town, bunkering oil (NNPC)
installations in these areas. It is estimated that an average of 20,000 litres
of petrol and diesel are being carted away every night.
What bothers one is the consequence of oil spillage into our rivers and fire
disaster that may occur. Fire disasters with devastating extensive consequences
that can gut the entire Koton-Karfe and Gegu-Beki communities not to talk of
over 10 human settlements along the pipelines. Also about 7 petrol stations
were built on the pipelines. Remember the Jesse fire inferno where 1,000 people
were burnt to death. Charred human bodies littered everywhere like bunch of
yams. In recent times there has been increases of fire incidences at homes as a
result of petrol stock at homes as transit points.
The impunity with which the vandals operate opens the way to doubts s to
whether any effort is being made to apprehend them. This, in spite of armed
policemen on guard there.
There is active evidence that the police in Koton-Karfe and Lokoja (HQS) are
fully collaborators in these crimes. In the past vigilante groups make arrests
but promptly released as soon as they get to the police HQS at Lokoja.
A community-based organisation, Club '98 has severally written and visited NNPC
Abaji Pumping Station and the police on these crimes but no action. The club
further organised public awareness campaign on the dangers of these acts and
attendant effect on the communities. But the illegal trade, exploration on the
"national cake" continued to wax stronger.
Furthermore, considering the dangers of oil disasters we expect NNPC to have a
fallback plan to contain emergencies such as these theft and where it is
carried out. Is it not possible that the vandals are operating as a syndicate
with the collusion of police and NNPC guards as insider? The Crime is on the
increase because there is no deterrence.
The only saving grace now is the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris,
appealing to take drastic steps with the federal authorities to deal, arrest
all those found. The rate at which these thieves are brandishing their cars
with stolen oil money, embarrassing, harassing and brutalising everyone are
common traits now. The Governor will be doing good by saving innocent lives in
Koton-Karfe and Gegu-Beki (where over 80 per cent of these criminals are) from
incidence associated with oil bunkering. As the govenor used to say, that
Koton-Karfe is his second home therefore please do something to prevent the
place from burning down from the activities of shrouded criminals. The
traditional rulers, elders could not exact their orders anymore
Salisu Mamman Isa, Kogi Local Government Secretariat, Koton-Karfe, Kogi State.

   

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