GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and a former governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP in the state, Chief Charles Ufuoma Obule yesterday evening successfully secured the release of MV Thor Galaxy cargo ship from militants in Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South-West council area of the state.

The vessel was carrying equipment for the multi-billion dollars Escravos Gas-to-Liquid, EGTL, project of Chevron Nigeria Limited to address gas flaring problem in its operations in Escravos. The ship was seized on Sunday by the militants as a negotiating tool for the release of the arrested oil bunkering vessel, MT Akuada, by the Nigerian Navy.

Vanguard learnt that the coordinated efforts of the Governor and Chief C.O.Obule who also is the Managing Director of Worldwide Premier Logistics Solution Nigeria Limited (formerly Panalpina World Transport Ltd.), the shipping agent responsible for the clearing of the cargo and associated services facilitated the early release of the cargo ship now berthing at the Warri port.

The duo of Uduaghan and Obule who were in Acrra, Ghana, made quick contacts with the militants, community as well as political leaders of Gbaramatu kingdom to prevail on their youths to free the ship and its crew unconditionally, as Chief Obule has been in the forefront of the revitalization of the Delta Ports, just as the Governor expressed grave disappointment over the incident as it could discourage Obule and other port users.

Meanwhile the JTF yesterday paraded some of the 12 Filipino crew members of the vessel conveying 84,000 barrel of illegally bunkered crude oil and the vessel itself at the Old Port in Warri, saying the arrest by the Naval Task Force of the JTF was a major landmark in its efforts to combat the illicit trade in the region. While commending the Task Force for its bravery, it said they encountered some attacks from some militants bent on securing the release of MT Akuada but stated that they were successfully repelled.

Addressing newsmen, the Co-ordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, JMCC, of the JTF, Lt. Col.Rabe Abubakar charged Nigerians to always provide vital information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of illegal bunkerers, saying that they are economic saboteurs out to enrich themselves only while polluting the environment and causing hardship to the masses. While saying that they would not be cowed by any group, he maintained that they are not here to fight any group but to protect everyone and government investment for the benefit of all and warned the militants to toe the path of dialogue and rectitude.