The Nigerian Navy has strongly refuted the claims made by former Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo, accusing certain military factions of engaging in oil theft activities in the region. Dokubo had voiced his accusations during a visit to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Friday.
Responding to these allegations, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the Director of Naval Information, dismissed the claims as baseless and demanded that Dokubo provide concrete evidence and names of those implicated in these criminal activities. Ayo-Vaughan made these statements in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.
Ayo-Vaughan emphasized that the Nigerian military, particularly the navy, has been actively leading the fight against crude oil theft at various levels throughout the country. He explained that stolen crude oil is not only refined within local communities for the domestic market but is also pilfered by criminals operating offshore.
The naval director highlighted a specific incident involving the arrest of the MT HEROIC IDUN, a ship caught attempting to load crude oil without the necessary licenses or approvals. The vessel was apprehended in Guinea Bissau and subsequently brought back to face legal proceedings on Malabo Island. Ayo-Vaughan recounted being present on one of their ships during the launch of Operation Dakatarda Barawo, meaning "stop the thief" in Hausa, at the FOT in Onne. This operation was a demonstration of their commitment to curbing the theft of the nation's natural resources, particularly hydrocarbons.
In response to Dokubo's claims, Ayo-Vaughan suggested that Dokubo was seeking attention and relevance. He challenged him to provide the names of the alleged military cabal involved in crude oil theft, stating that no one would shy away from exposing those engaged in such criminal activities. He made it clear that neither the Chief of Defense Staff nor the Chief of Naval Staff would tolerate any involvement in oil theft.
Ayo-Vaughan stressed that the Nigerian Navy remains undeterred by these allegations and will continue to actively combat crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region. He firmly stated that if Dokubo truly believes in the existence of a military cabal, he should present concrete evidence and reveal the names.
Furthermore, Ayo-Vaughan credited the efforts of the Nigerian military, including the navy, for Nigeria's recent restoration of its position as the top oil-producing country in Africa. This achievement was acknowledged by OPEC, NUPRC, and other reputable organizations monitoring oil production.
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