- As HOSTCOM says FG knows cabals stealing Nigeria’s crude oil
Some 219 Atlantic white-sided dolphins were killed at Skálabotnur on the Faroese island of Eysturoy, and nine more pilot whales were killed at Hvalba, on September 25, marine conservation organization Sea Shepherd said.
That brings the 2017 statistics up to 1,605 small cetaceans slaughtered in 23 grindadrap hunts so far this year.
Sea Shepherd has set as its mission to stop the slaughter of dolphins, including Atlantic white-sided dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales, in the Faroe Islands grindadrap hunts.
“Although part of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Faroe Islands claim to be independent of European Union rules and regulation that prohibit the killing of cetaceans. The Danish navy and Danish police have directly interfered with Sea Shepherd’s ability to stop the slaughter, both participating in and facilitating the grindadrap. Operation Bloody Fjords is a campaign to hold the Danish government accountable for their actions that result directly in the deaths of hundreds of dolphins every year,” the conservation society said.
The organization’s legal representatives have sent a formal response to the European Commission condemning its reply to Sea Shepherd ‘s research-based legal arguments for infringement proceedings against Denmark.
“Compiled over a two-year period, the evidence presented to the Commission in May 2017 shows that Denmark has broken EU laws by facilitating and participating in the slaughter of dolphins in the Faroe Islands. The Commission’s deficient reply dismissing the case indicates they failed to properly consider the dossier and its legal arguments,” the society said.
Sea Shepherd is demanding that the Commission gives specific responses – with legal justifications – for each of the main points addressed in the request for infringement proceedings within 15 working days.
“The Commission invited the submission of comments regarding its decision and requested ‘any information that might show evidence of an infringement.’ While we appreciate this opportunity to supplement the record, we respectfully point out that the Commission has failed to fully consider (or potentially consider at all) the extensive legal arguments and voluminous evidence already submitted in support of an infringement action against Denmark. There is no need for Sea Shepherd to submit additional ‘evidence of an infringement.’ The Commission already has sufficient evidence before it now,” Sea Shepherd said in a letter.
In the meantime, National Chairman, Host Communities of Nigeria Producing oil Gas, HOSTCOM, Dr. Mike Enuh, yesterday, disclosed that the Federal Government has full knowledge of cabals involved in stealing crude oil in the Niger Delta region.
Oil Enuh, who made the disclosure while inaugurating HOSTCOM National Youth Wing in Abuja, said that vessels used for oil theft and bunkering in the region were not invisible, pointing out that the officials of Nigerian Navy and other security agencies protecting oil installations across the country were aware of the illicit transactions.
Enuh noted that there was no way Naval personnel monitoring oil situation will not detect when empty vessels sail into in the country and the same vessels sail out filled with oil products without the knowledge of the Federal Government.
He lamented that the issue of oil theft and bunkering was business for cabals and cartel, hence the difficulties in curtailing the menace.
The retired military officer reassured Nigerians that the end has come for oil thieves and their collaborators with the recent engagement of the youths of the oil producing communities in pipeline surveillance and security services.
According to him, “With the engagement of our youths in the surveillance and security services, the issues of the pipeline vandalism and oil theft will be resolved because we know the cabals that steal the crude oil from our land,” adding the youths will fully be involved to checkmate the development.
World Maritime News with additional report from Vanguard