Emma Amaize
14 September 2012, Sweetcrude, WARRI—OIL thieves and barons have threatened the lives of top officials and workers of Oil Facility Surveillance Limited, OFSL, Warri, Delta State, a pipeline surveillance company contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to police the facilities in the state, for allegedly demolishing their illegal refineries.
Ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, is believed to be among the promoters of the OFSL, whose activities had since February, 2010 when it was established, been a threat to oil thieves.
General Manager of OFSL, Mr. Keston Pondi, who confirmed the threats to the lives and property of workers of the company, said formal reports on the threats were made to the office of Area Commander, Police, Warri.
Pondi also reiterated that the firm was being owed for its services by NNPC, saying that if the contract was not renewed in the next two months, the workers would down tools. He explained that since the company started operation in the state two years ago, the NNPC could attest that the rampant cases of oil theft in the state had dropped.
