NIGERIA: Ex-militant leader heads SPDC's patrol team

Authorities of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) yesterday
unveiled a new security strategy at securing oil pipelines and
platforms within the Niger Delta region.

SPDC said that it has appointed a former militant commander in
Bayelsa State, Mr. Eris Paul, otherwise known as Commander Ogunboss to
secure oil facilities in the Southern Ijaw area.

Aged 34, Paul is a native of Peremabiri in Southern-Ijaw Local Government area of Bayelsa State.

Before
the Federal Government's amnesty programme, he was a commander in the
Niger Delta Vigilante Force and at the upper Senate of the Movement for
the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and commanded a troop of
about 250 youths.

Under his command, MEND carried out numerous
attacks against the Federal troops and vital oil installation and
pipelines in the Niger Delta area.

Paul confirmed the story
yesterday and said that he had taken a familiarisation tour of his area
of surveillance and met with the community leaders to seek their
understanding and co-operation in his new assignment.

In a
statement by his company, Eristex Pipeline Patrol, Paul urged the oil
bearing communities to keep the spirit of the amnesty programme offered
the ex-militants and shun acts that could impede the operations of oil
companies in the region.

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