…As Hoodlums Attack Taskforce Chairman
By Barikui Felix
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Rivers State has called for partnership between the association and surveillance companies such as Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, and others for effective security of oil pipelines in the state.
Chairman of IPMAN, Rivers State Branch, Tekena Ikpaki made the call while reacting to the alleged assault on its Okrika Taskforce Supervisor on Anti-Vandalism , Ibinabo Igbokiri.
Igbokiri was allegedly attacked by suspected hoodlums last Friday for intercepting suspected vandals of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, pipelines.
Speaking to newsmen, the Okrika UnitTaskforce Head, Ibinabo Igbokiri alledged that he was brutally attacked and injured by pipeline vandals in Green-Ama Community, Okrika Local Government Area.
He explained that the attack followed a sting operation carried out by the IPMAN Taskforce in collaboration with operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
According to him, the joint team had earlier stormed the NNPCL Okari Jetty, where illegal oil pipeline vandalism was taking place, and recovered about 25 vandalised pipes – a development he claims prompted the vandals to launch an assault on him days after.
“It happened on the NNPCL active line running from Okari Jetty to Bonny terminal. They vandalised more than 25 pieces of pipes so we gathered the information from our taskforce who are members of IPMAN and immediately I swung into action as Taskforce Head, got to the scene, I was chased away by the boys; so I reported to the IPMAN chairman and he gave me directive to call the NSCDC officers who got there and recovered the pipes,” he said.
Narrating how he was attacked Igbokiri said the hoodlums numbering about 12 accosted him on his way from Abam-Ama, a community in the area and brutalized him.
“The next day we had our monthly meeting at the IPMAN Secretariat, after the meeting I decided to visit a friend at Abam-Ama after I finished the meeting it was late so I decided to pass the night at Okrika. On my way going home, they saw me on a motorcycle, they dragged me down, tore my clothes, took my phones, shoes, ATM cards and other belongings and tied me up, threatening to kill me,” he stated.
Igbokiri said it took the intervention of some community women to rescue him from being lynched by the hoodlums.
Reacting to the development, Chairman of IPMAN in Rivers State, Tekena Ikpaki condemned the alleged attack, describing it as barbaric and capable of throwing the area into unrest.
Ikpaki however called for stronger collaboration with security agencies and relevant stakeholders, particularly Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited PINL to intensify the fight against oil pipeline vandalism in the area.
“I was shocked to hear that he was brutalized by the hoodlums.
It is condemnable, it’s barbaric and if such a thing happens it might cause great danger to those living around that, so I’m calling on all government agencies saddled with the responsibly of securing the pipelines to synergise with IPMAN to see how we can do this job better for the federal government,” he stated.
