Army, Navy behind oil theft in Niger Delta- Asari Dokubo

A foremost Niger Delta Activist, Asari Dokubo on Friday said some personnel of the Nigerian Army and Navy were responsible for oil theft in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Mr Dokubo stated this on  while addressing State House Correspondents after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“The Army and Navy are behind oil theft. They intimidate civil defence, 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 alleged that some of the personnel  “set up facilities they call local refineries against the essence of their duties which was to protect oil installations facilities.

“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.

Mr Dokubo, however expressed belief that with the emergence of Tinubu and the support he enjoys from people like him “there will be zero oil theft in the Niger Delta”.

He stated that “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.”

Mr Dokubo said he has been “very close to the president for over 30 years” and that he received assurances that Mr Tinubu will “take decisive action to make sure that this does not continue”.