Leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Asari Dokubo, opened a can of worms during his presidential visit to Aso Villa recently. He accused the military of sabotaging the economy through unprecedented theft of crude in the Niger Delta. Ordinarily, the nation should applaud Dokubo as a true patriot who has come out boldly to state what many have only been able to say in hushed tones. It takes uncommon courage to look the president in the face and divulge information hidden in intelligence circles. The former militant blew his own trumpet by informing all of his contributions to the security architecture of the country especially the lull in banditry along the notorious Abuja – Kaduna corridor. He also named states like Anambra, Imo, Abia, Niger and Plateau as areas under his NDVF surveillance.

The Nigerian Navy countered his allegations daring him to name the officers involved in oil theft. The Nigeria Army was not as bold. Their reaction centred on carry- ing out investigations to identify those behind the criminal act. We cannot speak for the Army and the Navy. They have relevant agencies tasked with that. What is disturbing is the blanket condemnation of two im- portant branches of the Armed Forces. Dokubo was clear on the period of heightened oil theft, which coincided with the Muhammadu Buhari era. President Bola Tinubu did well by listening to Dokubo. We believe it is all in the bid to secure the mainstay of the economy. And one sure way of achieving that is by engaging stak holders. As a militant, the NDVF leader knows the creeks and deep waters so well. Tinubu, no doubt, understands when sentiments clash with national interest.

It is easy to condemn the Navy and the Army but it will be difficult to swallow all that Dokubo said. There are officers and men who have also done their best to protect the economic interest of the nation in the Niger Delta region. We believe there should be a defined line between national good and personal goal. The military may have failed in certain ar- eas but that is not enough to tag all loyal officers and men as oil thieves. Some of them have lost their lives working for the nation. No doubt the Navy and the Army may have some servicemen of question- That Asari press conference able character within their ranks. Government must fish them out and apply commensurate sanctions.

It is possible that Dokubo handed a long list of names to the president during his visit. We are convinced that the appointment of a new National Security Adviser (NSA) will help Tinubu in dissecting the Dokubo papers. How Nuhu Ribadu goes about this assignment will determine the relationship between the military and the militants. Ribadu, coming from a paramilitary background, should be firm and objective.

He is in a neutral position to review the operations of all security agencies in the Niger Delta. The NSA must also study the activities of militants as much as he keeps an eye on pirates. The president has taken a bold step with the ap- pointment of Rear Ad- miral Ikechukwu Ogalla as Chief of Naval Staff (CNS). The hydrographer is not new to the activi- ties of oil thieves. As Base Operations Officer of NNS Pathfinder, he was saddled with anti-oil bunker- ing duties. Ogalla acquitted him- self creditably, pounding criminals out of business during his tour of duty. Having seen action with ECOMOG in Liberia in the 90s, the new CNS spared no effort in restoring calm in the Niger Delta thereby protecting the economy. The president should involve the Nigerian Air Force in the fight against oil thieves through air surveillance. Fortunately, Dokubo spared the air- men in his briefing. Aer- ial advantage will make the job of securing pipe- lines easier as the three forces synergise.

The Navy should also be encouraged to do more. We are aware of their Special Forces trained during the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan presidency. Presently, there is the Maritime Guard Command (MGC) which patrols the inland waterways as well. With Dokubo’s revela- tion, we advise against privatising the Armed Forces. The job of national security must not be reduced to militant accountancy. Contracts may be awarded, if need be, but the overall interest of the nation cannot be sacrificed. This is the time to rebuild the Armed Forces. The bad eggs should be shown the way out. Those who have continued to secure our land and sea must be encouraged to do even more. The volunteers are not trained as professionals. They should re- main in the background.

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