“These oil bunkers, wait until it is dark at night and begin to cook or refine Crude oil, after it has been stolen from its source or pipelines”
In Rivers State, there have been series of reports on fire outbreaks lately. In a space of two weeks, the state recorded eight different cases on fire outbreaks which resulted to the death of humans and the destructions of goods and properties worth millions of naira.
Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt, and Eleme local government areas were among the listed areas which recordedbsuch outbreaks in the state. This is said to be the illegal activities of oil bunkers in Niger delta at large.
These oil bunkers, wait until it is dark at night and begin to cook or refine Crude oil, after it has been stolen from its source or pipelines. Government have been making efforts to stop this illegal activity yet it continues among the Niger delta youths.
When the gas from the illegal refining process, goes to the atmosphere, it begins to cause pollution, hazardous and health effects to man and the environment. Citizens of the state have been lamenting about ‘blacksoot’ for the past years, and this is believed to be the effect of illegal oil activities in the state, which are executed by mostly Niger delta youths.
Here are the reasons why Niger delta youths are involved in such devilish act.
1. They feel cheated by the Governments; Some youths in Niger delta, believe the government are cheating on them, both at the federal and state levels. Reason being that they mine crude oil from their lands, on the process of mining, they destroy their source of living, the Rivers and farmlands get polluted with little or no compensation.
This would make the youths go into oil bunkery as they believe the natural resource comes from their land.
(Photo credit; Vanguard news)
2. Little or no Job/employment opportunities; Rivers State for instead has a very poor record in granting employment to her citizens, this explains why there is high rate of criminal activities in the state, as the youths could do anything possible to earn a living without minding the cost.
SOURCE: OperaNews