Authorities of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) yesterday unveiled a new security strategy at securing oil pipelines and platforms within the Niger Delta region.

 SPDC said that it has appointed a former militant commander in Bayelsa State, Mr. Eris Paul, otherwise known as Commander Ogunboss to secure oil facilities in the Southern Ijaw area.

Aged 34, Paul is a native of Peremabiri in Southern-Ijaw Local Government area of Bayelsa State.

Before the Federal Government's amnesty programme, he was a commander in the Niger Delta Vigilante Force and at the upper Senate of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and commanded a troop of about 250 youths.

Under his command, MEND carried out numerous attacks against the Federal troops and vital oil installation and pipelines in the Niger Delta area.

Paul  confirmed the story yesterday and said that he had taken a familiarisation tour of his area of surveillance and met with the community leaders to seek their understanding and co-operation in his new assignment.

In a statement by his company, Eristex Pipeline Patrol, Paul urged the oil bearing communities to keep the spirit of the amnesty programme offered the ex-militants and shun acts that could impede the operations of oil companies in the region.

The Nigerian Compass