Former Niger Delta agitator, Mr. Asari Dokubo, yesterday, pointed fingers at the Nigerian Army and the Navy for oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
He alleged that over 90% of oil stolen in the Niger Delta is perpetrated by top military personnel, especially from the Nigerian Army and the Navy.
Dokubo made the allegation while addressing journalists after meeting with President Bola Tinubu in the presidential villa, Abuja
“The Army and Navy are behind oil theft. They intimidate civil defence (personnel) who are by law expected to protect installations. They tap directly from the oil head. What has been happening in the last eight years is unprecedented anywhere in the world,” he said.
He further alleged that that officers and men of the army and navy deployed to protect oil installations instead of that “set up facilities they call local refineries. This is a crime against humanity.
“The livelihood of the people is being destroyed. The main culprits are the army and navy. There are notorious army commanders who are known to be the ones behind oil bunkering.
Dokubo said the resources in the Niger Delta were being hijacked by a few Nigerians and their cohorts against the greatest interest of the citizens.
He said Niger Delta activists would ensure that the wealth of the people was used judiciously for the common good of the region and its people.
“We know that oil theft is an organised racket by some powerful people, including military personnel who give directives from Abuja. We have been saying this a long time ago and many Nigerians do not understand the politics in oil theft.
“I told the president that we know the people involved in this theft. Here was a crime being conducted within metres away from security posts of personnel sent to guard these oil installations.
“These security agents were able to intimidate other legally-recognised agencies mandated to guard these installations. We need to speak out against these elements and stop the bleeding of the economy,” he said.
Dokubo, however, said with the election of Tinubu and the support he enjoys from people like him and many others, “there will be zero oil theft in the Niger Delta”.
“There are powerful persons based in Abuja that are behind it, but in President Tinubu, they have met their match. Many people will find their way to Kuje.”
He said he had extensive discussion with the president and assured that very soon the bad eggs in the system would be flushed out to give way for sanity in the Niger Delta region.
He said the nation should not be held hostage again by a few individuals and groups who have no interest in the development of the Niger Delta and Nigeria generally.
He said he had known Tinubu for over 30 years and that he received assurances that Tinubu will “take decisive action to make sure that this does not continue”.
Dokubo further said he had already been offering services to the Nigerian government, which led to the relative peace being enjoyed along the Abuja/Kaduna expressway.
“I have volunteered to assist to do the things that are necessary to stop the evil going on. There are full-scale wars going on in different parts of this country.
“The blackmail of the Nigerian state by the military is shameful. They are lying to say that they don’t have equipment. I am a participant in this war; I side with the government of Nigeria.
“Kaduna-Abuja is free now not because of the army; it is my men stationed in Niger State.
“We don’t even have 1 per cent armament deployed by the Nigerian Army, and we have resounding success. This blackmail must stop. They have enough armaments; instead of fighting, they are busy making money.
“Where is Dogo today; he has been served the dish that he has been serving others.
“One individual is carrying two magazines of AK 47 ammunition and succeeding. The Army carries 20 to 30 in their vehicles. On slight attacks, they will abandon these ammunition to the bandits,” he said.
