President Bola Tinubu has commended all security agencies involved in combating oil theft for their collaborative efforts which are now yielding results.
This commendation was passed across by the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa, while inspecting the impounded MT. Kali and the suspects paraded by Tantita Security services and other security agencies at Oporoza, Delta State.
The CDS was in the company of top officials of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL and other top military officials, and promised to deal ruthlessly with oil thieves and their sponsors.
The Defence Chief disclosed that the arrested vessel would be destroyed in line with the standard practice to serve as a deterrent to others.
General Musa urged the media to stop creating disaffection between government and Private security agencies working together to achieve better results.
He said, “We are here based on the report of the arrest of this ship, and I think it’s a major achievement. It shows that we’re committed in ensuring that we stop this criminality within the maritime environment.
“This is a collaborative effort and it will continue to collaborate with the NNPC, the others, private security agencies, the main federal government agencies are also working together. I don’t want a situation where we create the impression as if there’s enmity between this group and that group.
“We’re working for the same team, we’re all Nigerians, this is our country. Whatever is happening here is an act of criminality that must be stopped by all means. So, I want to make it very clear that all Nigerians must put hands on deck to ensure that we stop these acts.
“The country is bleeding. We need all the funds we need so that this country can grow and develop and it is just by stopping these criminals like this, that will make that very possible.
“So why we’re here, is to come and see to identify them. The chief of Defense Intelligence is going to go straight into investigation as to who is involved, what was taken, who sent them, and this is because we want to catch the perpetrators.
“These ones are just the ground troops that are being used, the main actors are behind, and I want to use this opportunity to warn all those that don’t want to stop this, that enough is enough.
“The Armed Forces, the security agencies, the communities, private security agencies, wherever they are, they are contracted as long as they’re contracted by the federal government, we’re going to work together as a team”
(C) ControlTV 2024.
