Senator Alleges Military’s Destruction of Vessels Linked to Concealing Evidence of Oil Theft

By Iyojo Ameh

Senator Ned Nwoko, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) representing Delta State, has voiced serious concerns regarding the Nigerian military’s practice of destroying vessels apprehended for transporting illegal goods, particularly stolen crude oil.

The senator believes that such actions are taken to conceal or obliterate vital evidence associated with oil theft.

Senator Nwoko expressed his concerns in Abuja, where he engaged with journalists to bring this issue to light.

He strongly maintains that the destruction of vessels, which could potentially serve as crucial evidence in cases of illegal oil trafficking and theft, is counterproductive.

He argues that such actions only make sense if there is complicity and compromise among those tasked with preventing these criminal activities.

The senator emphasized the importance of preserving and documenting seized vessels and their contents instead of resorting to their destruction. This preserved evidence could be used to prosecute the culprits and present a compelling case in court, ultimately leading to the return of stolen oil to its rightful owners.

Furthermore, Senator Nwoko suspects that the military’s motivation for destroying these vessels may be linked to the elimination of evidence due to their alleged involvement in illicit activities.

He posits that certain military personnel may have been compromised, as the process of loading crude oil onto these vessels is a time-consuming operation that involves multiple stakeholders, including oil companies, NNPC officials, the police, and potentially more.

The senator also pointed out the suspicious rapid accumulation of wealth among some members of the joint task force responsible for combating oil theft. Many of them acquire significant properties and expensive assets shortly after their involvement in such cases, raising concerns about potential compromise and corruption.

Senator Ned Nwoko’s allegations underscore the urgent need to address this issue and ensure that proper investigations and evidence preservation are conducted to effectively combat illegal oil activities.