Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has accused some officers of the Nigerian Army serving in parts of Ahoada East and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Areas of the State of compromise in the fight against illegal bunkering activities.

Fubara lamented that some army officers attached to a particular company in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area in the state in a bid to hide their nefarious activities in the area, were attacking contractors handling projects for the Rivers State Government.

He stressed that the actions of those military officers were sabotaging the efforts of the state government to curb the oil bunkering menace.

According to a statement by the Governor’s media aide, Boniface Onyedi, Fubara made the disclosure while receiving the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja on a courtesy visit at Government House on Friday.

Fubara said: “One special problem that we have here is the issue of bunkering. In some parts of the State, in Ahoada East and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, most of the bunkering activities there, we believe, are subsisting because there is this cooperation between the Army and high-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 allow them to go ahead with our job, the military will always come and attack our contractors.”

The Governor further urged the Chief of Army Staff to call his men to order, adding that his efforts to resolve the issue proved abortive because of the vested interest of the said officers.

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

He commended the army and other security agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and security across the state.

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

Lagbaja thanked Governor Fubara for his continuous support, intervention, and cooperation with the army to perform its operations which have fostered peace and stability in the State. (Daily Independent)

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