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Tag: crude oil theft

  • Army arrests 35 oil thieves in 4 States

    Army arrests 35 oil thieves in 4 States

    The Nigerian Army says it has arrested 35 suspected oil thieves accused of operating illegal refineries and breaking into pipelines to siphon crude oil across four Niger Delta states. The States are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers.

    Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, spokesman of the Nigerian Army 6 Division, Port Harcourt, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. He also stated that troops destroyed 58 illegal artisanal refineries and seized about 11,200 litres of stolen crude oil and 355,000 litres of adulterated diesel during the raids.

    “The operations were conducted between Oct 21 and Oct 27 as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate oil theft and illegal bunkering activities in the Niger Delta region.

    “In Rivers, troops dismantled 22 illegal refineries and confiscated 131,500 litres of illegally refined diesel, 10,300 litres of condensates, and two wooden boats.

    “Six suspected oil thieves were apprehended during operations in Akuku-Toru, Ahoada East, Degema, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas (LGA), as well as in Obiofo Oil Field, Odagwa and Imo River,” he said.

    In Akwa Ibom, Danjuma reported that troops achieved notable successes, dismantling 34 illegal refining sites and arresting 27 suspects across various communities.

    Items seized included 215,000 litres of adulterated diesel, 19 wooden boats, nine vehicles, and 20 nylon bags used to store petroleum products.

    “In Delta, we arrested two suspected oil thieves and seized 1,200 litres of crude oil, 16 cellophane bags, two wooden boats, and one vehicle in Warri South and Ethiope West LGAs.

    “Operations in Bayelsa led to the destruction of two illegal refining sites and the seizure of 8,500 litres of diesel and 10,000 litres of stolen crude oil.

    “At least seven wooden boats were confiscated, and three vandals were arrested during the raids in Ekeremor, Nembe, Southern Ijaw, and Yenagoa Local Government Areas,” Danjuma added.

  • Senator reveals those behind crude oil theft in Niger Delta

    Senator reveals those behind crude oil theft in Niger Delta

    Sen. Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa West) on Friday described those behind oil theft in the Niger Delta as “big players” who reside outside the region.

    The senator made the allegation at Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta while visiting the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketepe, Agadagba.

    Dickson said although Ijaw youths were tagged to be behind oil theft, they lacked the capacity and technical know-how to understand how pipelines operate.

    “Those big players behind the crude oil theft are not from the region but are based in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the world,” he said.

    He explained that the Ijaw people were living in the creeks, earning their daily livelihood on the waterways and farmlands when the alleged thieves polluted the land with their nefarious activities.

    “We have no means and no capacity to engage in the high-level operations that result in the daily loss of Nigerian crude oil produced from our place.

    “Those who have the capacity to compromise and infiltrate the national security system and infiltrate the national petroleum system; those who have the capacity to hire the tankers and shuttle vessels, they are not Ijaws.

    “We do not have the capacity to do that! We do not even have the experience to be involved in that kind of operation,” he said.

    The legislator, who is also the ex-governor of Bayelsa State said such high-level operations needed a lot of resources, coordination, funding and international networking.

    He, however, urged Nigeria to step up her game in the international arena by pushing for the designation of her stolen crude oil.

    “Those who, on a daily basis under declare what is produced; those who have refused to properly monitor and record what is produced for over 50 or 60 years should take the blame.

    “It is not the Ijaw youth – harmless people without the capacity and without the technical know-how,” he said.

    He, however, commended the traditional ruler for ensuring peace in his kingdom and the entire Niger Delta.

    Dickson also visited Dr Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, founder of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL).

    He commended Ekpemupolo for the wonderful job he had been doing with his private security outfit, TSSNL, to boost the nation’s oil revenue and ensure the regeneration of the region’s ecosystem.

  • Crude oil theft: Two illegal pipeline connection points uncovered in Rivers

    Crude oil theft: Two illegal pipeline connection points uncovered in Rivers

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has uncovered two illegal bunkering sites in Rivers.

    The NSCDC spokesperson, CSC Babawale Afolabi, in a statement on Monday, disclosed that the sites were located at Odagwa-Owaza Riverside boundaries of Rivers and Abia while the other was at Etche local government area of Rivers.

    The spokesperson stated that the Commandant-General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGsSIS) discovered the illegal connections following intelligence report.

    “The illegal connections were made to syphon oil from well heads,  using very huge hoses laid and buried underground in a thick forest at Odagwa/Owaza Riverside boundaries of Rivers and Abia.

    “And another site at Odagwa in Etche area of Rivers where vandals tampered with valves of the manifold and siphoned crude at Imo River 2, oil and gas flow station operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Commission (NPDC).

    “During the operation, we observed that the first local refining site had been earlier destroyed by security agencies but was later rebuilt,” he said.

    According to him, some of the exhibits recovered were one new yellow colour Robin EY 20 Pumping machine, blue colour heavy-duty hoses, over 5,000 litres of locally refined petroleum products in cellophane bags and reservoir.

    Also recovered were about 10,000 litres of kerosene (AGO) stored in a cooking oven, two shovels and spades, buckets, and  four flash headlight.

    CG’s SIS Commander, Dandaura Appolos, has reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to waging a relentless war against oil theft across the nation.

    “Let me at this point re-assure the public that the NSCDC remains committed to her statutory mandate as the lead agency in safeguarding all critical national assets and infrastructure across the nation.

    “The Intelligence Department has commenced thorough investigation into the matter and the suspects in custody are currently assisting us in the ongoing investigation,” the commander said.

  • Navy arrests 13 suspected crude oil thieves, says kingpins won’t be spared

    Navy arrests 13 suspected crude oil thieves, says kingpins won’t be spared

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Mohammed Hassan, on Saturday, confirmed the arrest of 13 suspected crude oil thieves on board Motor Tanker (MT) Sweet Miri off the coast of Nigerian waters.

    Hassan told newsmen aboard the vessel that the motor tanker was ladened with almost two million litres of products suspected to be crude oil and had no naval approval onboard.

    The FOC, who is also the Commander, Joint Taskforce Operation Awase, South West, said thorough investigations to ensure that kingpins of crude oil theft were brought to book would be carried out

    He said the launch of Operation Delta Sanity by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla had further spurred naval men towards fighting crude oil theft with more vigour.

    “On Feb. 15, our radar detected a dark ship, meaning, she hide all forms of investigation as far as 174 Nautical Miles off the coast of Nigeria heading westward towards Republic of Benin.

    “We dispatched Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Aba to go and investigate the contact, we subsequently followed the investigation by dispatching NNS Sokoto to double-up the search and interdiction.

    “MT Sweet Miri, is a vessel that has been on the watch list of the Nigerian Navy for some time and has been arrested for suspicion of crude oil theft,” the FOC said.

    Hassan said the vessel was opened for other agencies to come and take samples and carryout their own independent investigations to find out the culpability of the vessel of interest.

    “We are happy to contribute further in the fight against crude oil theft and we will continue to double-up on our efforts in this regard.

    “We think that most of this theft is carried out from abandoned well heads at sea.

    “There are so many spread out all over and there is a need to decommission these oil heads as they provide avenues for thieves to take advantage of,” he said.

    Hassan reiterated the commitment of the Navy under the instructions of the CNS to clamp down on kingpins following the arrest of MT Vinnalaris 1 Lagos, in December 2023 in Ondo State.

    He said the CNS had directed that all arrests must be properly investigated and justice served.

    “So, we are not just to stop at the level of crew arrest but to also go after kingpins and with the case of MT Vinnalaris, we have done a good job.

    “We have gotten the people involved in the theft and that includes the managerial level of the company that owns the ship.

    “We just have one more person to pickup who has absconded outside Nigeria but we are waiting for him,” the FOC said.

    Hassan gave credit to the DSS for being a formidable organisation and for doing a great job particularly in matters of investigations brought to them.

  • EFCC quizzes 8 suspected oil thieves in Port Harcourt

    EFCC quizzes 8 suspected oil thieves in Port Harcourt

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have commenced investigations into the activities of eight suspected oil thieves in Port Harcourt.

    EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to Oyewale, the investigations are coming on the heels of the handover of the suspects to EFCC by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Bonny Island, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

    He quoted the Navy as saying that the vessel, MV Cabrini, and her eight crew members were arrested during an operation on Nov. 8, 2023.

    “They were arrested with an unquantified amount of illegally acquired Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), along Bonny Channel,’’ he said.

    According to him, the suspects are Tyson Saidi, Emmanuel Memedo, Bamidele Owoeye, Sunday Okenwa, Sanusi Adeola, Kessen Friday, Miebaka Kienka and Emmanuel Adewole.

    He explained that Naval Hand-Over Officer, Lt.-Comm. G.Y Gwaza, said that the suspected oil thieves were handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.

    In response, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Itoro Levi, who received the suspects on behalf of the EFCC, assured that thorough and professional investigations would be carried out in the case.   .

    She also thanked the Navy for its collaborative efforts with the EFCC.

  • FG develops roadmap to tackle oil theft

    FG develops roadmap to tackle oil theft

    The Federal Government says it has developed a roadmap to end crude oil theft in the country.

    Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo and the Chairman, Crude Oil Theft and Management Committee of the National Economic Council (NEC), said this when he briefed newsmen shortly after a closed-door meeting with some governors in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Uzodimma said that the committee was constituted in 2023 by Vice-President Kashim Shettima following growing concern over crude oil theft.

    “This has reduced our oil production status drastically and has caused untold hardship to the country and almost tampering with the margin of our currency.

    “Today, we met since the first meeting after the reconstitution to develop a work plan that will be used by the committee to be able to confront this case of crude oil theft headlong.

    “We just developed a road map, an action plan that we will take. At this stage of preliminaries, we are trying to identify, really, the areas of leakages and the likely causes and what have made it possible.

    “Our concern is to restore Nigeria’s oil production profile to either better what it used to be or at least, where it was, which is about two million barrels,” he said.

    Uzodimma added: “We are committed not to disappoint the expectations of the national economic council.

    “It is my hope that going by our deliberation, that we will be able to make the difference as our own contribution toward national development.”

    Other governors at the meeting included Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta; Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo; Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe; and the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

    Navy launches new strategy to combat oil theft

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy has lunched “OPERATIONS DELTA SANITY” to further combat crude oil theft and other criminalities in the nation’s maritime space.

    The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla flagged-off the Operation on Wednesday at the NPA Jetty, Warri, Delta.

    “Operation DELTA SANITY” replaces Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO.

    In his remark, the CNS said that Operation Delta Sanity was timely, considering the renewed effort of the Federal Government toward attaining sustainable development of Blue Economy.

    He said that Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO was launched in April 2022 to stern the tide of crude oil theft.

    Ogalla said that the menace of crude oil theft and illegal bunkering had constituted a substantial threat to the nation’s economic prosperity.

    “As at December 2021, Nigeria’s crude oil production had fallen from 1.579 million barrels in 2020 to 1.197 million barrels.

    “This loss was attributed to pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and operation of Illegal Refining Sites (IRS).

    “Accordingly, no effort should be spared in combatting oil theft which constitutes a grave national security threat,” he said.

    The naval chief said that it was on this premise that the Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO was launched.

    He said that during the operation, the Navy engaged in kinetic and non-kinetic initiatives across the Niger Delta.

    The Naval chief said this led to arrest of several vessels and crude oil and refined products.

    “These include the landmark arrest of MT HEROIC IDUN in Aug. 22, which prevented the theft of about three million barrels of crude oil.

    ‘”A total value of over N105 billion worth of crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products were seized during the operation.

    “As a result of the Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO, as at September 2023, Nigeria’s crude oil output rose to 1.35 million barrels per day, from about 1 million barrels per day.

    “It peaked at 1.57 million barrels per day in October 2023.

    “It is my singular honour and privilege to terminate Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO and Flag-off Operation DELTA SANITY.

    “I wish all the officers and ratings of participating units fair winds and following seas,” he said.

    The CNS said that the Blue Economy initiative of President Bola Tinubu sought to maximise the Nation’s potential by deriving optimal benefits from Nigerian Maritime Environment for economic prosperity.

    He said that the initiative beholds on the Navy to rejig the ongoing anti-crude oil theft, anti-illegal bunkering and related operations.

    Ogalla said that the Navy conducts its military, policing and diplomatic roles in line with its constitutional mandate.

    He said that the Navy policing role encompassed enforcing and assisting in coordinating the enforcement of anti-bunkering laws of Nigeria.

    The naval chief stressed the need to ensure greater integration of Maritime Domain Awareness facilities,and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to enhance situational awareness of the Area of Operations.

    He said renewed strategy on environmentally sustainable handling of seized products, and arrested vessels had been reconstituted under Operation DELTA SANITY.

    “The operation will incorporate complimentary kinetic and non-kinetic measures to consolidate the successes of the Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO in the Niger Delta area,”he said.

    He charged all participating commands, units and establishments to strive towards realising the desired operational objectives of Operation DELTA SANITY.

    “I seek the support of concerned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as maritime stakeholders to ensure the success of this Operation.

    “I believe that all hands will be on deck towards achieving the desired objectives of this Operation.

    “This would foster the much-desired economic recovery and development of our great nation,” he said.

    The naval chief thanked Tinubu for his continuous support to the Nigerian Navy.

    Also speaking, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta thanked the Navy for the new initiative and promised to offer support.

    Oborevwori was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu.

    In a remark, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) thanked the Navy for ridding Nigeria’s maritime environment of crimes.

    He said that the Navy made giant strides in its maritime policing efforts in line with its constitutional mandate, especially through prevention of oil theft and others.

    Hr urged all participating units and formations to vigorously, and sincerely pursue the desired operational objectives of Operation DELTA SANITY.

    “I equally solicit the support of all stakeholders and partners to the Navy so that we can derive optimal benefits from this noble initiative,” he said.

    The CNS also inaugurated a building project at the premises of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta.

    In attendance were Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, Commander, Joint TaskForce (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle represented by Director of Navy, Dr Raji Ogunsola, Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Chindo Yahaya.

    Others are Mr Austin Oruoye, member representing Warri South Constituency, representatives of other military and para-military among others.

  • Over 4,800 illegal connections attached to crude oil pipelines – Kyari

    Over 4,800 illegal connections attached to crude oil pipelines – Kyari

    Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari has described oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta region as a calamity.

    Kyari said there are over 4,800 illegal connections on crude oil pipelines in the region and warned that this could frustrate the projections of the Federal Government.

    Speaking on Friday in Abuja when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Appropriation on the proposed budget for 2024, Kyari said that the daily oil production would depend greatly on the security situation in the oil rich Niger-Delta region.

    He described the act of vandalism and oil theft going on there as a calamity and completely abnormal.

    “The situation we have in Niger Delta in terms of security is a calamity. We don’t have that anywhere in the world. To engage non state actors as last resort as solution is abnormal. But we have to respond abnormally.

    “You have over 4,800 illegal connections on our pipelines. That means, within every kilometer, you have an insertion. Even if you seal all the insertions, you can’t get what you want in terms of production.

    “In the Niger Delta, people are coming from all parts of the country to do illegal refining. That’s why we engage locals to deal with it.  We will contain this challenge. We are doing everything possible to restore sanity. What is happening is a colossal damage to the environment and the host communities,” Kyari said.

  • Crude Oil Theft: Navy nabs oil vessel with 17 crew

    Crude Oil Theft: Navy nabs oil vessel with 17 crew

    The Nigerian Navy says its Forward Operating Base (FOB), IGBOKODA, in Ondo State, hasi n the early hours of Thursday apprehended a 77-meter-long Motor Tanker (MT) VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS involved in crude oil theft.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, in Abuja.

    Ayo-Vaughan said the vessel, which had 17 crew members onboard at the time of arrest, was caught engaging in illegal siphoning of crude oil from one of the well heads at EBESAN oil field about 7 nautical miles off the coast of Awoye riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo state.

    He said the arrest of the vessel followed credible intelligence received by the Base on the illegal activities of crude oil thieves at the location, which informed the swift deployment of FOB IGBOKODA personnel to nab the vessel and her crew.

    “Notably, as the anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of FOB IGBOKODA approached  MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS, the 2 x boats attached to the vessel fled on sighting the naval personnel, which confirmed the engagement of the vessel in illegality.

    “Accordingly, on arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the vessel was actively involved in siphoning crude oil from both sides of the well head.

    “Consequently, upon further search and interrogation, it was further discovered that the vessel had onboard 17 crew members of Nigerian nationality.”

    Ayo-Vaughan said the vessel had storage capacity of about 15,000 metric tonnes, adding that it loaded about 500 metric tonnes of crude oil as at the time of arrest.

    According to him, the arrest of MT VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS attests to the Nigerian Navy’s determination to curb crude oil theft and all manners of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

    He warned that the Nigerian navy would use all legitimate means at its disposal to track and arrest perpetrators of illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime environment.

    He solicited the cooperation of patriotic and well-meaning members of the public to promptly report any form of criminality, especially in the coastal communities to the navy for necessary action.

    According to him, it is believed that Tantita Security Service (TSS) is involved in these illegalities because Awoye riverine area which is close to the place of arrest is covered by TSS.

    “Again, it was upon the arrest of the vessel by the Nigerian navy that TSS began to raise false alarm, totally unfounded and indeed mischievous.

    “Nonetheless, the Nigerian navy remains resolute in the pursuit of her constitutional mandate for the protection of Nigeria’s Maritime Environment for national economic development and prosperity,” he stated.

  • Crude oil theft: How ‘Tompolo’ allegedly “saves” Nigeria $43.2m daily

    Crude oil theft: How ‘Tompolo’ allegedly “saves” Nigeria $43.2m daily

    Capt. Warredi Enisuoh has disclosed Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, a private security firm owned by Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, save Nigeria over $43.2 million on a daily basis.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Enisuoh, who is the Executive Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd., made the disclosure at the maiden Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) annual lecture on Wednesday in Lagos.

    The lecture had the theme: ‘Maritime Security: Emerging Threats and Actionable Steps.’

    Enisuoh while highlighting the crucial roles of private security operators disclosed that dealers in crude oil theft plant Closed-Circuit Television cameras in creeks to monitor their illicit activities.

    He said there were places where grass may not grow for the next 100 years because of crude oil spill caused by these perpetrators.

    “In the past, these operators utilised fire to process the crude oil but they realised that security operators have drones and night vision capabilities to see the fire trails.

    “So, they moved to electricity. When they realised we discovered their illicit activities with electric, they translated to phosphoric acid.

    “They pour the crude oil into several drums and pour phosphoric acid and wait for six hours for the acid to convert the crude to diesel that will be fetched from the top,” he said.

    Enisuoh, a former Director of Shipping Development at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, noted that the perpetrators of crude oil theft moved away from the land areas to the creeks to attack oil well heads.

    “They connect hoses from the wellheads into their storage. These transactions usually take place at night, as they go to the wellheads with canoes to fetch crude oil without minding the pollution or possibility of fire outbreak.

    “If the pressure isn’t strong enough, they use a reservoir to fetch the oil. Some of these oil connections flow through cassava farms and farm settlements,” he said.

    Speaking on the activities of private security operators in Secure Anchorage Area (SAA), Enisuoh wondered why a nation would carve out a portion on water like a land and sell it to somebody.

    “With SAA, a vessel is entering the place and you say no you cannot enter here because you did not pay.

    “However, the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea declared the right of passage on the waters for vessels? Nigeria is a signatory to that law, so I am sorry if I made mistakes at that time with my conviction about SAA.

    “Nonetheless, I still stand by it. I will never ever entertain the situation in my country where people will pay to access the waters,” he said.

    TNG reports Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. is a private security contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd.

    Meanwhile, in his welcome address, the President of MARAN, Mr Godfrey Bivbere, expressed concern over huge crude oil theft recorded in Nigeria; and the concomitant adverse effects it had on the national economy.

    Bivbere noted that this had reportedly led to the gradual but increasing dwindling economic fortunes of the country.

    “While MARAN is of the view that the establishment of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) Maritime Collaboration Forum for the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction had enabled industry partners within the region to connect and interface on the right strategies to raise the bar in tackling these challenges.

    “l am constrained to say that the responses are not achieving set targets, effectively and efficiently.

    “The International Maritime Bureau report of July 2023 confirmed that the GoG witnessed a surge in maritime incidents in 2023, with five such incidents in the first quarter and nine in the second quarter.

    “Out of these, 12 were classified as armed robberies and two as piracy, predominantly targeting anchored vessels within the region,” he said.

    Also in his goodwill message, the former President Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria, Mr Isaac Jolapamo, decried the state of security on the waterways.

    According to him, there is a lot to be said about security of Nigerian waters before it extends to the Gulf of Guinea and this dates back to over 40 years.

    Jolapamo decried the pitiable state of the present Nigerian shipowner, stressing that shipowners should be heard and not seen.

    The event was attended by several maritime bigwigs including; the Chairman, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho; former President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Prince Olayiwola Shittu; President General, Maritime Worker’s Union of Nigeria, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju; and President, National Association of Master Mariners, Capt. Tadjudeen.

    Others were the President of NISA, Mr Sola Adewunmi; former President of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Chief Eugene Nweke and the Publisher, Shipping Position Newspaper, Mr Sesan Onilemo, among others.

  • Why we destroy vessels used in crude oil theft – CDS

    Why we destroy vessels used in crude oil theft – CDS

    Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa has disclosed reasons why security forces destroy vessels used in siphoning Nigeria’s crude oil.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports General Musa made the disclosure when Service Chiefs appeared before the House of Representatives at plenary on a sectoral debate on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The House had invited the Service Chiefs for a briefing aimed at combating the surging insecurity challenges in the country.

    Those present included the Chief of Defense Staff; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogala.

    Others were the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun.

    In his submission, Musa blamed the judiciary for releasing arrested Boko Haram suspects after being arrested by the military.

    “I have been in the Northeast; there were a lot of Boko Haram elements that have been captured. We have kept them for five/six years. We the armed forces can arrest but cannot prosecute.

    “Some of them have been found wanting, but no prosecution.

    “We are keeping them for this lengthy period, everyone is accusing the Armed forces in keeping them against their human rights, but we cannot prosecute.

    “Another aspect of the judiciary is that you use all your efforts to make an arrest, you hand them over, and before you enter your vehicle, the man has been released on bail.

    “Now you have risked yourself in doing that; by the time he is released, he goes to tell the people the person that arrested him. Now your family members or you are at risk,” Musa disclosed.

    He said it was getting to a state where the security forces would not want to make any effort.

    ”We have the issue in the South-South, the last ship that was arrested, was arrested 10 years ago; the ship went and changed its name, changed its colour and came back again.

    ”By the time they handed over the ship and before you know it, it is released,” according to him, stressing that this is an area that must be looked into.

    “We must have a special court to look into it. That is why we arrest and destroy them because the longer we keep them, it becomes a problem,” said the CDS.

    Musa said they often come under pressure to release them.

    He said that at the moment, about 140,000 terrorists have surrendered and are awaiting disarmament, assuring that there is no single territory currently being occupied by Boko Haram insurgents.

    Musa said the activities of Simon Ekpa, the Spokesperson of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) currently hiding in Finland, were doing a lot of damage to the Southeast region of the country.

    He alleged that Ekpa was being protected by Finland, adding that there is a need for the government to engage the government of Finland and possibly invite its ambassador to Nigeria.

    Musa said that while the military and other security agencies in the country were doing their very best to ensure that there is peace in the Southeast region, the comments and activities of Ekpa were sabotaging such efforts.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taureed Lagbaja, highlighted some of the challenges facing the Nigerian Army, which include funding, logistics, and manpower.

    On his part, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, said the major challenges facing the Nigerian Air Force in the conduct of air operations include the rising cost of aviation fuel.

    Others include delay in the release of funding, complexity in targeting, porous borders and manpower disposition.

    The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, urged the House of Representatives to ensure adequate appropriations for the service to acquire resources to enable it to achieve its mandate.

    Ogalla said the resources were basically required in terms of fleet renewal, aircraft and support facilities.

    “The Navy is just about 30,000 for now. We are making efforts to expand the size of the navy and train them adequately to be able to meet its objectives.

    “With adequate support, we should be able to tackle activities of oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refineries, irrespective of the weather. “

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, had earlier said they are focusing on security given the unprecedented challenges of the past decade.

    Abbas said that over the last few years, the country has made significant progress in tackling insecurity through improved investment by the federal government.

    He commended the gallantry and professionalism of servicemen and women, while saluting the courage of the armed forces and law enforcement personnel.

    The speaker emphasised that an appearance in person by all invited heads of MDAs was required throughout this sectoral briefing.

    He added that the House would not accept proxy representation for any reason whatsoever, adding that notices were sent well in advance to forestall any excuses.