A prominent Niger Delta leader, Asari Dokubo, on Friday, alleged that the Nigerian military are the brain behind oil theft in the region.
He made the statement during his visit to the president at the Aso Villa in Abuja.
He alleged that the bulk cases of oil theft recorded in the oil-rich region are traceable to the Nigerian Army and Navy.
“The military is at the centre of oil theft and we have to make this very clear to the Nigerian public that 99 per cent of oil theft can be traced to the Nigerian military, the Army and the Navy especially,”
However, he pledged his support to the Federal Government to bring oil theft to “zero,” believing that the Tinubu-led administration would “fish out” the culpable elements in the military.
He assured the new administration of his support to ensure “zero” oil theft in the Niger Delta.
He said “Myself and my brothers have assured the President that there will be zero oil theft and vandalization in the Niger Delta.
“We’re going to walk with an NPPCL and the IOCs to make sure that oil tapped is brought to zero.”
On security, he faulted the narrative that the military was underequipped to take on terrorism, banditry and militancy head-on, describing it as “blackmail.”