Oil Montoring Group accuses Niger Delta firm of frustrating JTF operations

Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production, operators of Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL), has been accused of being behind the attempted blackmail to frustrate the Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman from consolidating on his successful curbing of oil theft in the Niger Delta.

The accusation emerged from the stable of the Niger Delta Oil and Gas Monitoring Group (NDO & GMP) on Tuesday in a statement made available to TribuneOnline in Warri, Delta State.

The statement was signed by the National Coordinator, NDO & GMP, Biukeme Pereteibo and Secretary, Tolaifa Government.

They accused Aiteo management and its Chief Executive Officer, Benedict Peters, of an alleged move to scuttle the relative peace being enjoyed in the
Niger Delta region for personal benefits.

Tribune Online reports that Aiteo and the Commander of JTF have been having altercations over the sponsors of last Monday’s protest at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja by a group of youths who are calling for the removal of Rear Admiral  Apochi.

The JTF Boss had earlier accused the Chief Executive of Aiteo of being the brain behind the protest.

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But Aiteo’s management had, on Tuesday, reportedly absolved Mr. Benedict Peters of sponsoring the protest.

However, NDO & GMP, in its reaction to the development, accused Aiteo and its Chief Executive Officer of being the brain behind the protest.

It wondered where the said protesters got such huge money to hire buses and print glossy banners for the protest if not from someone that has the enormous resources to fund such project.

The group also said it had earlier reported the illegal activities of the oil company to JTF, alleging that Aiteo is noted for various shady deals in its operations.

It noted that it is obvious in Aiteo’s reactions, as published by various national newspapers on Tuesday, that the company has an aim which is to oust the JTF boss by all means.

The group noted further that the hands of Aiteo are not clean and had reported its observations to the JTF.

“It is the efforts of the security outfit to curb the activities of this company that makes it react this way by sponsoring the protest.

“Is it only Aiteo that is operating in the Niger Delta? If Admiral Apochi is involved in illegal oil bunkering as alleged by Aiteo, why are other IOCs not also complaining?

“The JTF boss is supervising other security agencies like Army, Navy, Airforce, Police, NSCDC and DSS, why are these agencies not reporting to their offices for action?” it queried.

The group appealed to the media not to allow themselves to be used by Aiteo’s management and others to thwart the good job JTF is doing in the region.

NDO & GMP also urged the Defence Headquarters to wade in and investigate the activities of Aiteo and save the Niger Delta region from further crisis.