Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Joint Military Task Force operating in the Niger Delta region, Operation Delta Safe, at the weekend disclosed that it foiled more than 419 vandalism attempts on crude oil export facilities in the year 2019 alone.
Operation Delta Safe, which is saddled with the responsibility of protecting critical national infrastructure in the region, said the feat led to uninterrupted oil exports in the year 2019.
Speaking, Commander of JTF OPDS, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, said that the facilities operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, as well as other oil multinationals were the key targets.
Akinrinade, at the 2019 West Africa Social Activities of the Nigerian Army, 16 Brigade, Yenagoa, said efforts of the military have drastically reduce the level of crimes in the Niger Delta region.
“The 16 Brigade garrison, which is part of the Operation Delta Safe has contributed enormously to the operational achievements of the Joint Task Force in the year 2019.
“Significantly, the Joint Task Force has averted over 419 attempted infractions on Shell Petroleum Development Company major pipelines as well as other export pipelines.
“This alone is about 72.2percent of the total attempt made on these assets. The 16 Brigade since its take off in 2017 has no doubt done well in the discharge of its constitutional roles in line with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai.
“The performance of the brigade particularly in the just concluded exercise Crocodile Smile IV, is highly commendable.
“This is evidently manifested in the drastic reduction in the numbers of crimes within the brigade area of responsibility, but while recounting this successes, there is need to remain focused and not to be complacent.”
Also, the Commander, 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Yenagoa, Brigadier Gen. E T Essien, explained that the WASA activities is customary marked by the Nigerian Army to end of each training year, and to usher in the near year.
Essien disclosed that WASA was introduced when the Nigerian Army fought as part of the West Africa Royal Frontier Force in the second World War and was sustained as part of the Army traditions.
“WASA is an age long tradition of bringing officers, their family and friends to socialize, this has helped to foster esprit-de-corp and promote civil military relationship.
“This event is to promote reach cultural heritage in promoting unity in diversity, it also reminds us of importance place that culture and tradition occupy in our social life.”