Eunice Jonathan, the mother of President Goodluck Jonathan, has commended the military Joint Task Force (JTF) for donating a borehole to Akipelai community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The borehole, which is sited at the premises of the Community Secondary School, Akipelai, was commissioned by President Jonathan’s mother, a native of the community.

She thanked the JTF Commander for his efforts towards eradicating illegalities in the Niger Delta region.

The president’s mother also commended him for the professional approach in carrying out the mandate of the task force and urged the people of the community to give him the necessary support to fight oil theft.

She urged youths of the community to protect the borehole against vandalism.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the JTF Commander, Emmanuel Atewe, a Major General, commended the Akipelai community for toeing the line of his Zero Tolerance Campaign against illegalities in the community.

He applauded the community for not indulging in any act of oil theft which he described as economic sabotage against the Federal Government of Nigeria.

’’The people of Akipelai are in total support of this fight and we must continue to identify with them by supporting them in the area we can.

“We are donating this as a mark of appreciation to this community for not involving in illegal oil bunkering and oil theft,’’ he said.

He urged the people of the region to continue to support the task force to carry out its mandate in the Niger Delta.

‘’Illegal oil bunkering and oil theft degrades the ecological system, thereby creating a health hazard to the inhabitants of the community. It is an act capable of causing health damages.’’

He also promised to donate some sporting kits to the community.

In his welcome address, the Chairman Akipelai council of Chiefs, Chief Meni Etuere Owolo, thanked the JTF Commander for what he described as military, social and institutional responsibility to the community

The monarch pledged the community’s support in the fight against oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the area.

Dignitaries at the occasion included component commanders and principal staff officers of the JTF, traditional rulers, National Youth Service Corps members, women and youth leaders of the community.

(NAN)