No Mercy for Oil Looters! Ibas Demands Ruthless Crackdown on Vandals Sabotaging Nigeria”

Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has called for the rigorous prosecution of oil thieves as a critical measure to tackle the widespread economic sabotage undermining Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Ibas made this appeal on Friday while receiving the Senate Committee on Incessant Crude Oil Theft, led by Chairman Senator Ned Nwoko, at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement released by his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, Ibas emphasized that lenient punishments encourage criminal activities, depriving the country of vital revenue necessary for development.

He praised the Committee’s mandate to investigate oil theft across producing states and terminals, expressing confidence that their findings would bolster Nigeria’s economic strength.

“Your visit is both important and timely. Crude oil theft strikes at the core of Nigeria’s economic stability, undermining President Bola Tinubu’s reforms aimed at enhancing oil production and funding national infrastructure,” Ibas stated.

He highlighted Rivers State’s achievements in reducing pipeline vandalism through enhanced intelligence operations and improved inter-agency collaboration.

“As a key oil-producing state, we are dedicated to eradicating threats to production. Our objective is to establish a secure, technology-driven monitoring system to protect assets and increase output.”

Ibas further stressed that strict prosecution will ensure that convicted oil thieves face harsh, deterrent penalties.

Responding, Senator Ned Nwoko reaffirmed the committee’s determination to uncover and dismantle theft networks both onshore and offshore.

“We require Rivers State’s cooperation to eradicate this menace. Major thieves operate in international waters, and a joint effort is essential to safeguard Nigeria’s resources,” he said.