JTF Destroys 23 Illegal Oil Refineries, Drums Of Stolen Crude In Niger-Delta and Promise to Cramp down on all Illegal Bunkering Sites in the region. My question is, are military officers not also involved in Illegal Oil bunkering

It's been over two decades since the youths in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria started engaging in the activities of operating illegal refineries within the Niger Delta region.

Source

Most of the youths complained that the Multinational corporations within the region are taking advantage of their natural resources without any meaningful development within the region. This may be true in the sense of lack of infrastructural development within the area. It is a state of dilemma to see the disparities in the livelihood of the indigenes of the region when compared with the kind of resources the region posses.

This disparities has been the major reason for the rise of militancy and oil bunkering in the region. This is a major source of employment to many jobless youths in the region according to most of the illegal refinery operators. The question is, how do they get crude oil used in refining other crude oil derivatives? It's actually through pipeline vandalism.

Most of the fire outbreaks within the Niger Delta region is caused by pressures from vandalized oil pipelines. It's very funny to see citizens go into areas that oil pipelines have been vandalized to scoop out diesel and petrol from the spot. This is a sign of insanity.

For sometimes now, the Federal Government of Nigeria have setup several Joint Military Taskforce with the sole responsibility of ending all bunkering activities within the Niger Delta region.

In a recent raid by operatives of the anti illegal oil bunkering unit of the military Joint Task Force (Operation Pulo Shield), 10 persons have been arrested and 23 illegal refinery camps located in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, destroyed.Source

It has been a recurring incidents for the Joint Military Taskforce (JTF) to raid a bunkering sites and destroy the instruments used in the oil bunkering.

The question to answer is, how many of these Joint taskforce don't take bribe worth millions of naira during their said military operations in the creeks?

It's very difficult to see an honest military officer amongst the JTF. I'm not saying there are none, but most officers are pushed to taking bribe from the operators instead of carrying out their duties in the creeks.

It's pertinent to note that the people sent to put things aright are the ones increasing the momentum of oil bunkers in the Niger Delta region.

Be that as it may, the personnel of the JTF are trying their best to keep the sea calm for travelers amidst the operation of pirates within the creeks.

During the said military operation in the Niger Delta, the JTF spokesman said:

According to a press statement issued and signed by the JTF spokesman, Mustapha Anka, a lieutenant colonel, items recovered at the sites in Delta State includes 750 drums filled with substance suspected to be stolen crude oil, 57 Large metal tanks filled with illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) and 48 cooking ovens.
Other items includes 48 dug out pits filled with crude oil, 16 pumping machines, 35 surface tanks, four welding machines and several illegal oil bunkering hoses.Source

I'll finally say that, the JTF should be classified as men of integrity if the government wants the activities of illegal refineries to end in the Niger Delta region.

Source:

• https://www.icirnigeria.org/jtf-destroys-23-illegal-oil-refineries-drums-of-stolen-crude-in-niger-delta/