By Chris Udochukwu
Nigerian Army has said that the troops of 5 Battalion operating under 16 Brigade, in a raid operation on Sunday 25 June 2023 at Azuzuama Community in Ijaw South Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, captured an armoury located in a Camp from where suspected unrepentant militants and illegal oil bunkerers carry out their nefarious activities.
The Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu who disclosed this in a statement on Monday hinted that during the operation, the highly motivated troops subdued the suspected militants with superior firepower, compelling them to abandon their camp in disarray.
He further stated that the well-conducted raid operation led to the recovery of 5 AK 47 Rifles, 2 Rocket Propelled Grenade Bombs, 4 Rocket Grenade Bomb Chargers, seven 7.62mm Special ammunition, 14 AK 47 Rifle Magazines and one pumping machine.
According to the statement, other items recovered include two 16-inch anchored verve, one mallet hammer, one pipe range spinner and one axe. The illicit camp has been destroyed by the troops.
The Nigerian Army wishes to express appreciation to members of the public and urges all to continue to provide timely and credible information in support of the ongoing effort by the Nigerian Army to ensure that oil theft in the South-South region comes to zero level.
Precise Post recalls that this is the first announced raid after the ex-Niger Delta Militant leader, Asari Dokubo, accused the Nigerian military of being behind 99 percent of oil theft in the country.
Dokubo made the accusation after a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu in his office penultimate Friday.
He stated that the President has promised to investigate allegations of huge oil bunkering by notorious naval commanders that are kingpins, and promised to take decisive action to halt the shameful act.
Dokubo added that there are powerful cabals operating from Abuja, vowing that these powerful forces in place have now met their match and many people would soon be marching to Kuje.
However, in a swift reaction, the Nigerian Navy described as spurious, the allegations by ex-Niger Delta militant leader.
Reacting to the accusation, the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, challenged Dokubo to produce evidence and names of those behind the criminality.
Ayo-Vaughan said the Nigerian military, and the navy in particular, had been at the forefront of fighting crude oil theft at all levels in the country.
He said while crude oil stolen from pipelines is refined in the creeks for the local market and the local buyers, it was also being stolen by criminals from offshore at sea.
“You remember the case of MT HEROIC IDUN that was made to pay fines to the Nigerian government after they were arrested and brought back from Guinea Bissau, Malabo Island and made to face court orders.
“It demonstrated the will of the Navy to go as far as even beyond our waters to arrest a ship that attempted to load without a license, without due approval in April last year.
“Nigerian Navy has been fighting crude oil theft, taking the fight to the creeks and as I speak to you, our men are battling in the creeks.
“So, what I will just say is, Asari Dokubo is seeking some form of relevance and whatever.
“He alleges that there is a cabal of military people that are involved in crude oil theft, let him bring the names.
“Nobody is afraid of getting the names of those involved in crude oil theft.
“You cannot make such spurious allegations and think that we will just sweep it down the carpet,” he said.
Ayo-Vaughan said neither the Chief of Defense Staff nor the Chief of Naval Staff will condone such.
According to him, the Nigerian navy will not be distracted by the allegations and will continue to be actively involved in the fight against crude oil theft and resources in the Niger Delta.
The Navy spokesman said efforts of the Nigerian military in the Niger Delta were the reason Nigeria regained the top spot in oil production in May among oil-producing countries in Africa, as confirmed by OPEC, NUPRC and others.
