By Victor Akaa, Abuja
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.
An official information signed by Maj. Charles Ekeocha,
Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division,
Nigerian Army, released to Enugu Reporters says the army debunked the allegation credited to the federal lawmaker as untrue reiterating that its soldiers have always acted professionally in their assigned task.
The statement further quoted the General Officer Commanding(GOC), 6, Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Felix Agugo, describing the said 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.
According to Maj. Ekeocha, Gen. Agugo said “It is quite unfortunate that Hon. Francis Waive decided to be economical with the truth, with his spurious, baseless, unfounded and speculative allegations.
“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 explained.
He further 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 then assured that the soldiers would continue to uphold integrity and professionalism in while ridding illegal bunkering in the region.
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