Nigeria: Pipeline Vandalism - Surveillance, Reconnaissance Continue in Lagos, Ogun Creeks

The Operation Awatse Joint Task Force, comprising military forces and some elements of the paramilitary, yesterday sustained the tempo in flushing out the dreaded pipeline vandals occupying the creeks and mangrove in Lagos and Ogun States.

Although the weather hampered plans by fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), to sustain it's four days aerial bombardment of the creeks, surveillance and reconnaissance however continued.

Also at alert are the land and maritime component, comprising the special forces of the Nigerian Army (NA) and Nigerian Navy (NN), respectively, as they constituted a blockade at the different escape routes across the creeks.

The JTF comprises the elements of the navy, army and air force, as well as the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

The aerial bombardment and subsequent invasion of the enclave by the JTF is part of the military's operation tagged: 'Operation Awatse', a Hausa word for 'scatter', which has both the land, air and maritime components.

THISDAY gathered that the aerial surveillance video obtained by the NAF aircraft showed millions of kegs containing the stolen petrol products, which were chained together and hidden in the creeks.

At the Arepo area in particular, the video showed a massive oil theft cartel, operating their well-oiled operations in the creeks.

A military source who spoke on account anonymity about the ongoing operations said: "The army was supposed to move in on Saturday after our initial bombardments on Thursday and Friday.

"However, they had to put a stop to that because they wanted the Air Force to further bomb more grounds, thereby clearing the thick mangrove to prevent any ambush by the vandals.

"But attempts to fly today (Sunday) was hampered by the rains. We had already assembled at the flight line for take off, only for the rains to start.

"However, we did surveillance and from the shots we got, we saw over two million kegs possibly containing stolen petrol products. These people are robbing the country blind."

Responding to allegations that the bombs might have also killed civilians, he said: "For now, we are focused on using rockets.

"We are yet to start with bombs because the area is swampy. It's possible to drop a bomb and it won't detonate because of the swamps.

The intensive offensive air strikes were initiated to flush out the pipeline vandals turned militants operating at Ishawo and Igando areas of Ikorodu in Lagos State; then Arepo, Awawa, Elepete and Ibafo areas of Ogun State, given that the JTF was tasked with the responsibility of protecting the NNPC pipelines from Atlas Cove to Mosimi Depot.Hinged on the pilot scheme of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), the Air Force deployed two fighter jets, one MIG 34 and ATR4 aircraft for the operation.

SOURCE: THISDAY