Probe JTF Chief, Militants Tell Minister

Oil Bunkering: Probe JTF Chief, Militants Tell Minister, CDS

THE Bayelsa State sector command of the Joint Task Force (JTF), a special security outfit, is currently jittery as militants are pressing for the Sector Commander, Victor Ezugwu, an Army Colonel, to be investigated over his alleged involvement in oil bunkering.

A report by AkanimoReports says a militant group, the Network of Niger Delta Freedom Fighters (NFF), claimed in a statement on Tuesday that they want the Defence Minister and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to constitute a panel to probe their allegation.

Some military operatives within the JTF sector command said the allegation was unsettling the command.

This is the second time a militant group is accusing the JTF top brass of being involved in oil bunkering. Last June, the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), an insurgent network that comprises some units of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the Refomed Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (R-NDPVF) and others in an on-line statement by their Spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, accused JTF commanders of engaging in illegal oil bunkering.

The JRC pleaded with the authorities to investigate the source of the wealth of the JTF commanders. It seems the allegation was ignored by Abuja.

Apparently not comfortable with how the JRC allegation was treated, Co-ordinator of the NFF, Mr. Nengi James, on Tuesday said, ''we are urgently calling on the Chief of Defence Staff and the Minister of Defence to constitute a panel to investigate the involvement of Colonel Victor Ezugwu, the Sector Commander of JTF in Bayelsa state for his alleged engagement in oil bunkering activities''.

The Army Colonel is also alleged to be having two dredgers operating within the Brass rivers.

According to the insurgent group, ''The Eagle Eye of Bayelsa state first made the accusation against the JTF chief on February 25, 2010. For us, this is like the case of the military officers who were involved in the African Pride bunkering saga''.

Insisting, they said, ''we want the relevant authorities to address this matter with a view to bringing the culprits and perpetrators to book, and also ruled out the purported involvement of innocent Niger Delta youths in such activities''.

Continuing, the militants said, ''we are worried that military officers posted to the oil region to maintain peace and security are involved in refined and crude oil theft.'' ENDS

ENDS

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