27 May 2013, WARRI – FOLLOWING stern pronouncement by the Delta State Government and the military authorities that the leadership and elders of communities where illegal bunkering activities are perpetrated would be decisively dealt with and sanctioned, the oil rich Ugborodo community elders and leaders have warned all those involved in the illegal trade to vacate the Escravos axis or be ready to bear the brunt of their action.
Similarly, the authorities of the Warri South-West council led by the Secretary, Mr. Victor Omunu and other security agents have also warned illegal oil bunkerers to leave the Escravos area henceforth or be ready to face the full wrath of the law as nobody would be spared in the impending invasion of all illegal refineries across the state.
The Vice Chairman of the Ugborodo Community Trust, Mr. Isaac Botosan and the Ugbajor of Ugborodo community, Priest Perry Atete who addressed the community at the Ode-Ugborodo town hall, Saturday, told the people that they are prepared to give the names and addresses of suspected illegal refineries dealers around the Escravos area to security personnel, saying that with this last warning, all those involved, indigenes and foreigners should leave the environment immediately.
Mr. Botosan stated that Ugborodo is not an illegal oil bunkering community and would therefore not shield anybody involved in the illicit trade of economic sabotage and pledged their support to cooperate fully with all relevant security agencies to curb the trade and put a stop to the environmental degradation being caused by the nefarious act.
Those in attendance including the elders, men, women, youth leaders and all stakeholders were therefore admonished to cooperate with security agents to rid the Escravos environment of any trace of the illegal business, and informed that the meeting would serve as their last warning.
*Emma Arubi