By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Former Niger Delta agitator, Mujahideen Asari Dokubo on Friday visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Presidential Villa, Abuja, vowing to collaborate with the government to fight insecurity in Nigeria.
This is even as the leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) has accused the Nigerian military of colluding with pipeline vandals, insisting that about 99% of oil theft in the Niger Delta area of the country are carried out by Nigerian Army and Navy.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after the closed doors meeting with Tinubu, Asari revealed that he had a fruitful discussion with the President on the security situation in Nigeria and how he and his group can work with the government to bring the issue to the end.
He also said that the reason behind his visit was to give his words of encouragement to the President for his actions and pronouncements since he assumed office.
According to him, “We discussed the issues of security and oil theft in Niger Delta. Myself and my brothers assured Mr. President that there will be no more oil theft in the Niger Delta.”
Asari also said he told Tinubu that powerful cabals operating from Abuja are behind oil bunkering and its devastating effects in the creeks of the Niger Delta region but vowed to lead the war against the perpetrators, saying that “My people are in all parts of Nigeria to stop all these criminalities”.
He alleged that over 99 per cent of oil theft in the country is carried out by the Nigerian Army and Navy, adding that the people perpetuating oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region are powerful cabals most times operating from Abuja with the entitlement mentality.
Speaking further Asari said, “The military is at the centre of oil theft. 99 per cent of oil theft can be traced to the Nigeria military, the army and the navy.
“The army and navy intimidate the Civil Defence that have the responsibility to protect the oil facilities. The main culprits are the army and the navy.
“There are notorious army commanders that are kingpins in the oil theft. The military men are busy stealing. The insurgents are harvesting from Nigeria military and police to further their criminality “
The former militant further disclosed that ‘his people’ are deployed in different parts of the country maintaining peace, adding that it was his ‘people’ that have made it possible for Nigerians to travel from Abuja to Kaduna and vice versa.
He said the President has promised a decisive action to make sure that this does not continue.
“I volunteered to help to see to an end to this evil. I can take bullet for Tinubu and if he fails hold me responsible”, he said.
Asked if he is working together with another ex- Niger Delta agitator, Government Ekpemopolo better known as Tompolo who won multi-million naira pipeline surveillance contract from the immediate past government, Asari said both are not in the same camp.
Said he: “Tompolo and I are not working together. I am working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am working for his government to succeed. I am protected, that is why I have volunteered to work for the government to end all these nonsense (oil theft and insecurity)” .
