Pipeline vandals, oil thieves insist on amnesty

There were indications on Monday that pipeline vandals, operators of illegal refineries and oil thieves met behind closed doors in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to discuss issues affecting their illegal business in the Niger Delta region.

Our correspondent gathered that the coalition of illegal oil dealers drawn from Edo, Delta, Rivers and other states in the region insisted that only amnesty from the Federal Government would stop them from scooping oil from pipelines.

They were said to have urged President Gooodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly to see their call for amnesty as the only way to salvage the economy of the country.

They said they were ready to give up their trade in the interest of the public if the government would act swiftly to grant them their request. Read more