From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Movement for the Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (MSDND) has called on the National Security Adviser (NSA,) Nuhu Ribadu to launch an independent investigation into alleged cases of oil vessels entrapment along the waterways of the region.
The group which exonerated the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, from allegations of corruption and illegal oil bunkering insisted that the probe must include the recent seizure of crude oil vessels by the personnel of the private security company, Tantita Security Services Limited.
The protest letter dated 13th of February,2024 and signed by the Publicity Secretary of MSDND, Kelvin Orughoe, claimed that there is a clear attempt to usurp the constitutional powers of the Nigeria Navy and use individuals to cast aspersions on the hard-earned integrity of the Nigeria Security networks.
According to him, the entrapment activities along the waterways of the Niger Delta is meant to defraud the Nigerian public, including frivolous claims of complicity of security agencies in crude oil theft which is capable of causing chaos and breaching the national and economic security of the country.
He noted that while Nigerians and the world were allegedly deceived to believe that the private security had in the past few weeks seized two vessels allegedly involved in crude oil theft off Bayelsa waters, the truth of the matter is that the seizure claims were to score political points in their bid to win over the Bayelsa Central Corridor of the proposed multi-million dollars crude oil pipeline surveillance contract.
Orughoe, argued that the seizure of the said vessels and the false allegations made against Ogalla were conveniently designed to hoodwink the Federal Government and give some persons interested in the multi-million dollars crude oil pipeline. surveillance contract edge, while the Nigeria Navy whose constitutional responsibility is to protect the territorial waters of the country is shut out
“We ask that the security agencies including the Nigeria Navy to launch major operations into Jones Creeks in Delta state where some illegal bunkering and loading vessels with crude oil.
“We became privy to this information when some highly placed community sources stated that the content in the seized vessels were Remanent on Board (ROB) and pre-uploaded with stolen crude.Also, different tactics were utilised to invite and deceive top security chiefs and others rather than the loading station where the said vessel were arrested.”
MSDND called on the security agencies and the Nigerian Navy to make urgent arrests and investigate the false and sponsored claims against Ogalla to unveil those behind the propaganda.
The group warned members of the National Assembly to desist from plans to initiate legal frameworks to break the monopoly of the Nigeria Navy in the policing of the nation’s blue water and deep sea.