The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has accused men of the Nigerian Army in the state of being neck-deep in the illegal oil theft business.

The governor alleged that, to cover up for their illegal oil theft business, men of the Nigerian Army in the state have plotted with some oil companies to frustrate the ongoing road construction in Ogba/Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area by attacking the contractors.

He told the COAS that while his government is doing all its power to fight oil bunkering, his men are frustrating all efforts because they have possibly compromised in parts of Ahoada East and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Areas of the State.

Fubara, therefore, called for synergy to fight the compromised officers who are frustrating his administration’s effort to tackle oil theft in the state.

He said, “One special problem that we have here is the issue of illegal oil bunkering. In some parts of the State, in Ahoada East and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, most of the bunkering activities, we believe, are subsisting because there is this cooperation between the Army and top oil companies.

“I’m saying this because there is this road we are constructing somewhere in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, and each time the contractor approaches this particular company and pleads that they should allow them to go ahead with the job, the military will always come and attack our contractor.”

Governor Fubara explained how he had tried to resolve the problem without success because of the alleged vested interest that the officers have in the illegal business. He, therefore, called on the Chief of Army Staff to call his men to order.

“Carrying out some assignments with any company does not give any person powers to decide how things should be done for the State. Look into the matter,” the governor added.

In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, said he was in Port Harcourt as part of the visit to formations and units under his command following his assumption of office.

He appreciated Fubara’s continuous support, intervention, and cooperation with the army to perform its operations that have fostered peace and stability in the State.