“You Lied” GOC 6 Division Debunks Illegal Bunkering by Soldiers
By Lazarus Zakaa, Nigeria
The Nigerian army has denied allegation by one Francis Waive, a lawmaker in the Delta State House of Assembly , that its soldiers were engaged in the sale of seized petroleum products recovered from anti bunkering operations in the Niger delta.
According to a statement released by Major Charles Ekeocha, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, “the Army say there was no truth in the allegations by the lawmaker as its soldiers have always acted professionally in their assigned task.”
General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6, Division, Nigerian Army, Major-General Felix Agugo, who made this known, described the allegations as spurious, baseless and unfounded”
He also described the allegations as false and motivated by the lawmaker to discredit the efforts of the Nigerian Army to fight illegal bunkering in Delta State.
“It is quite unfortunate that Hon. Francis Waive decided to be economical with the truth, with his spurious, baseless, unfounded and speculative allegations.”
He said soldiers from the 6 division, comprising Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States are well trained and would not do anything that would bring name of the army into disrepute.
He noted that contrary to the allegations by the lawmaker the division has done very well in the fight against illegal bunkering and would not be deterred by some disgruntled members of the public.
He however warned that he would not condone any act of indiscipline and lawlessness from soldiers as anyone found wanting would be arrested and made to face disciplinary actions to serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded personnel of the division.
The GOC who said the lawmaker was being economical with the truth, said “Thorough and discreet investigations were carried out and it was discovered that the allegations by the Delta legislator were false and motivated by ulterior motive, intended to discredit the efforts of the Nigerian Army to fight illegal bunkering in Delta State and other parts of the Niger Delta, as the troops usually destroy or burn the seized petroleum products at the various sites, with the processes usually recorded and officially reported.
“It is pertinent to also state that the seized trucks/vehicles of the illegal bunkerers/refiners are usually handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies, for further investigations and possible prosecution.”
While noting that some relics of burnt vehicles at the Tactical Headquarters of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) in Delta state were not fresh, Gen Agugo, said they were burnt in 2018 during the conduct of Exercise Crocodile Smile 3, and assured that they would soon be cleared.
He therefore called on stakeholders in the Niger Delta to refrain from making unfounded allegations against the Nigerian Army, even as he urged them to continue to provide useful information and evidence to 6 Division, on erring soldiers to enable it take disciplinary actions for any untoward act.
He assured that the soldiers would continue to uphold integrity and professionalism in while ridding illegal bunkering in the region.
