By Bayo Etema, Yenagoa
Bold indications have emerged on Saturday that the crude methods adopted by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and other security agencies have aggravated the evils of illegal refinery operators to the Niger Delta environment.
The NSCDC whose operational style is to set ablaze the illegal refinery sites in region have released large volume of soots which have continually devastated the environment.
The people of Agbura community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Saturday accused the NSCDC of aiding environmental pollution of the area.
The NSCDC operatives had allegedly set fire to an illegal diesel dump behind a filling station at Agbura, thereby releasing unprecedented smoke to pollute the environment.
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The area is currently being enveloped by a thick smoke from the site near a petrol station.
They were said to have set a fire on some products believed to be illegally refined crude and the smoke has covered the entire community and even the nearby areas.
Panicking residents are said to have begun to flee the community in fear of possible fire incident that may arise from the action.
A resident of the area who spoke on condition of anonymity, wondered why NSCDC as a trained government security agency will not consider environmental safety before destroying the illegal refineries.
According to him, “Apart from the reprehensible acts of these illegal refineries, the activities of some government agencies also contribute regrettably to environmental degradation of the area.
Recently, the Bayelsa State Security Council had warned those engaging in oil bunkering activities in the state to desist forthwith, saying the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on perpetrators.
The government which gave the warning at the end of the 15th session of the Bayelsa State Security Council meeting presided over by Governor Douye Diri in Government House, Yenagoa, noted the activities of operators of illegal refineries in the state has adversely impacted on the environment causing soot and other health hazards.
When contacted, the spokesman for NSCDC in Bayelsa State Command, Mr Solomon Ogbere, denied allegation that his men burnt down illegal refining side, saying the command is working on a statement about the incident at Agbura.
