Warri — Some unknown elements in the Niger-Delta areas who specialise in vandalising oil pipelines have struck again in Warri, Delta State, thereby causing a massive spillage. The destruction of the pipeline has also affected the operations of the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), in the city.

The news of the oil pipe vandalisation hit Warri city as residents woke up yesterday to find three military aircrafts hovering in the airspace around the area, apparently on a surviellance mission.

Although the actual loss to the nation from the pipeline destruction could not be ascertained as at press time, THISDAY checks revealed that illegal bunkerers believed to be operating from the creeks around Benneth Island, may have been responsible for the incident which took place around a location not far from the PPMC jetty.

Dependable sources at the jetty hinted that the vandals were heavily armed and usually launched their attacks on the pipeline under the cover of darkness. The vandals usually siphon refined products from the pipelines into storage tanks built into large barges owned by barons of the illicit business.

Commanding Officer of the NNS Umalokun (Navy Base), Warri, Captain Titus Awoyemi who confirmed the latest vandalisation incident, hinted that a combined force of naval personnel and soldiers guarding the jetty facilities were already on the trail of the vandals.

Awoyemi who condemned the illegal activities of bunkerers expressed dismay at the dexterity of the vandals, especially as they dug deep into the swampy terrain to gain access to the pipelines buried several years ago.

The activities of the vandals have led to loss of millions of naira by the Federal Govern-ment in recent times.

The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum, Hon. Halims Agoda recently disclosed that the Federal Government may be losing over a hundred billion naira annually to large scale fraud and illegal bunkering.

Previous efforts by security agencies to stem the tide of pipeline vandalisation in the creeks and on land have yielded little results as the barons of the illicit trade were never caught. Also, the operatives used by the bunkerers who often fall into security net were usually released in questionable circumstances when they are arrested by lawenforcement agents.

Many in Warri, however, believe the presence of the air force planes in the city may be part of efforts being made to protect the pipelines.

The fast moving aircrafts took over the city skyline for almost twenty minutes, unleashing a deafening noise that forced motorists and commuters to abandon the roads and scamper for safety.

Although there were conflicting reports as to the mission of the three aircrafts, their sudden appearance and displays were interpreted by some other residents to mean the beginning of another dimension to the ethnic conflict plaguing the city in recent times.

The multi-ethnic city went up in flames early this month as two rival ethnic groups (Itsekiri and Urhobo) engaged in violent confrontations over delineation of electoral wards ahead of the April polls.

There is currently a dusk to dawn curfew in the city, amidst apprehension that the ethnic groups are still warming up for another onslaught.

Most residents still fear that the indictment of the army in the last round of hostilities may force the military high command to take stern measures against any group that may want to re-ignite the conflict.

However, the military formation in the area has reacted to the presence of the supersonic jet fighters, describing their mission as a routine military exercise.

Although the Commanding Officer of the 7th Amphibious Battalion, Nigeria Army Effurun, Lt-Col Gabun Dogo could not be reached for official comments, a source at the military base said the presence of the aircraft was not a prelude to any military action against ethnic militia groups, but "were probably on a routine military exercise."

The aircrafts donning dark green and brown military camouflage colours were believed to have been of the MIG-28 class used by the Nigeria Air Force.