Why We’re Finding It Difficult To End Oil Theft In Niger Delta – Nigerian Military

Why We’re Finding It Difficult To End Oil Theft In Niger Delta – Nigerian Military

The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has provided insight into why the Nigerian military has struggled to permanently halt oil bunkering and theft in the Niger Delta region.

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General Musa shared these remarks during an appearance on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.

He highlighted that communities in the region often provide protection to those involved in oil bunkering activities and actively participate in rebuilding illegal oil refineries whenever military personnel dismantle them.

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General Musa underscored the significant financial losses incurred by Nigeria due to illegal activities in the region, including crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

“We are having a lot of problems with the communities in the Niger Delta. Some communities even protect individuals that do this (crude oil theft). On a daily basis, we destroy illegal oil refineries. (But) as we are doing that and turning around, they are fixing them (the illegal refineries) back,” Mr Musa said.

He expressed worry that those who engage in crude oil theft in the Niger Delta have developed capacities to fix illegal oil refineries destroyed by the military “at a very short term.”

“We have seen situations where, eight, seven, six kilometers away from pipelines, broken, drawn perfectly and connected to individual houses and they are moving these things (crude oil) out,” he stated.

Mr Musa said the fight against crude oil theft would have been seamless if Nigerians were reporting individuals who engage in the illegal activity to the military.

“We cannot be everywhere. If Nigerians report these issues to us, we will be able to address them,” he said.

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