“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary, the evil it does is permanent.––Mahatma Gandhi”
The Major General Mohammadu Buhari (Rtd) led government seemed to have forgotten its promise of empowering the Niger Delta people through issuance of licenses to those who are engaging in illegal refining of petroleum products.
The Vice-President Professor Yemi Osibanjo who held forth as the acting-president, while the president was on medical trip in the United kingdom, promised that the government is mulling the idea of grouping the illegal refiners into cooperative groups and issue them licenses to contribute meaningfully to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
It is no longer news the harm the activities of these illegal refiners have done to the nation. They steal the crude oil by vandalizing the pipelines not minding the hazardous effects it could cause to the environment. Environmentalists have warned persistently that the activities of these “OIL THIEVES” may spell doom on the health of the people in the long run.
In Imo state in Abaezi woodlands in the Ohaji/Egema Local Government Area recently, an illicit crude oil refinery exploded and killed over 110 persons. Environmental experts have noted also with concern the increasing cases of cancer in the Niger delta.
Governor Nyesom Wike set up task forces across Rivers state to wipe out the illicit refineries in the state, this as a result of the dangerous soot that has enveloped the atmosphere in the state. The action of the governor to curb the dangerous trend has emboldened the dare-devil criminals, they have resorted to the use of arms to protect their “territories”.
The dangerous activities of these “kpofire” operators has reached its crescendo. Reports have it that the late Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Late Sunday Frank-Oputu was gruesomely murdered by some unscrupulous illicit refineries Operators in his Local community of Egbemotoru in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Investigations also revealed that the abduction of a serving commissioner in Bayelsa state, Chief Federal Otokito was orchestrated by some operators of illegal refineries who attempted to set up a “kpofire business” in his country home Otuokpoti in the Ogbia Local Government Area.
It was also widely reported that there is now what could be described as palpable tension in the sleepy community of Kalaba in the Okordia Clan of the Yenagoa Local Government area over the killing of the paramount ruler, Chief Francis Kolubo and the Community Development Committee Chairman Mr. Samuel Oburo by unknown gunmen.
Though the killing of the duo remains sketchy it was gathered that some persons who are engaged in illegal bunkering and “kpofire” business who had altercations with the duo carried out the dastardly and barbaric act.
As usual security operatives are now in Okordia to carry out in investigation and bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book. Another reactionary approach, it is now before us that the operatives of this “kpofire business”, are now more daring because they have engaged dare-devil hoodlums who wielded dangerous AK47 weapon to “protect” their illicit businesses.
Furthermore, the government seem to be helpless as the hapless citizens now bear the brunt of the activities of these criminals. What is worrisome it that security operatives are also involved in the illegal business because of the poor remunerations they get. The poor community folks also have joined in the business because that is the only factory available in their localities, since the government is helpless and cannot proffer the needed solutions to the now seeming protracted problem.
Until the government relook at the laws inhibiting petroleum product exploration in the country, The government should work the talk as promised. Ensure they group the itinery illicit refineries into cooperatives and issue them licenses for modular refineries, the illegal trade would continue to escalate and the more daring the criminals would become.
We cannot afford to be losing our people, the government should act fast before it is late. The perpetrators should know that the resort to violence would do us no good, the “good” would only be temporary because the evil it would do would be permanent .If we don’t kill this Kpofire stuff, Kpofire will consume all of us
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