…As Fight Against “Kpofire” Operators Claims Lives
The fight against illegal oil bunkering in the riverine areas of Rivers State has taken a different dimension as the operators are not taking anything to chances to ensure they succeed by any means.
On Tuesday 11th February, 2020 report had it that a Federal Government Security Agency based in Bille Community known as “Laprado Security outfit set out on a raid over the illegal refinery with some of its staff in conjunction with soldiers from the 29 battalion of the Nigerian Army based in the area as well as some staff of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDS).
They said their job include to destroy the illegal camps and arrest the culprits that are said to be sabortaging the nation`s economy.
Investigation however revealed that contrary to media report from some quarters, the security group went to the direction of Ke Community on the said day. A staff of Laprado Security Outfit, Mr Mathew Fenibo explained to our reporter that the attack by some unidentified gunmen on them during the routine patrol at the illegal refinery camp in Ke Community led to the loss of nine (9) lives which include four(4) NSCDC staff and five(5) Laprado security staff with many others injured including soldiers.
Some survivors of the attack who are receiving medical treatment said the attack on them was calculated as they were ambushed and attacked as soon as they arrived the site.
“As I am talking to you, many are missing as we ran helter skitter to different directions”. Meanwhile, the Chairman BIlle Chiefs Council, Chief (Barr) Bennett Okpokie-Dokubo in his reaction described the media report that went out earlier as a propaganda aimed at causing disaffection”.
He maintained that Bille Community is not at war with anybody and has no thought of carrying out an attack on Communities.
“We are being accused wrongly. Bille is not responsible in the destruction of illegal bunkering camps or fighting illegal bunkers but because of a company called-Laprado Security Outfit which is a Federal Government Agency that is situated in Bille as its operational base to carry out this function. A lot of people are mixing it up”. The Chairman made it clear that the company is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja.
The Chairman said he doesn’t think that Laprado Security Outfit will attack a place that is not associated with illegal bunkering.
Chief Okwuro Digbani, Rivers State Coordinator of Laprado Security Outfit, reiterated that his staff were on a routine checks carried out in conjunction with the military and NSCDS staff and was not targeted at any group or Community.
He used the opportunity to circulate a statement he signed to newsmen which called on members of the public to disregard the rumour making the rounds that Bille and Ke Communities are at war.
“We are peace loving people, we call on the Elites, Chiefs, women and Community people to discourage their sons from engaging in the illegal refinery of petroleum products in their Communities and report anyone discovered to the security agencies for prompt action”.
The Media Director of Laprado Security Outfit, Unit 3, Rivers State, Comrade Dokubo O.A. Jackson supplied names of some of the casualties from his office to include Julian Brass, Temple B. Alali, Mr. Edward Frimenjibo, Bille-ibi Dein, Ene-Ibiba, Sisi Diri, Diepiriye Igani and four others who are missing.
