Ex‑militant leader urges FG to name and shame oil thieves

2026-02-04 - 16:38

By Tunde Oso ABUJA — A former militant leader and Mayor of Urhoboland, His Excellency Dr. Eshanekpe Israel, also known as Akpodoro, has called on the Federal Government to publicly identify and prosecute individuals involved in oil theft, warning that continued inaction could undermine national security. Speaking on Wednesday at his Mayoral Palace, Akpodoro condemned recent online publications critical of the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), describing them as attempts to discredit efforts aimed at curbing oil theft in the Niger Delta. He urged law enforcement and security agencies to investigate the authors of the publications, stressing that attacks on security operations protecting national assets should not be taken lightly. According to him, sustained criticism of the contract could encourage unrest in the region if left unchecked. Akpodoro appealed to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and other relevant agencies to act decisively to halt what he described as coordinated efforts to undermine anti–oil theft initiatives. He noted that the Federal Government’s decision to engage private security firms for the protection of critical national assets aligns with global best practices. The Urhoboland mayor argued that oil theft has significantly affected Nigeria’s revenue and oil production in the past, adding that the surveillance arrangement has contributed to improvements in output and helped the country better meet its OPEC quota. He further called for firm action against oil thieves and their collaborators, insisting that persistent attacks on government programmes aimed at safeguarding national resources should attract appropriate sanctions. Akpodoro maintained that protecting oil infrastructure remains vital to economic stability and urged the Federal Government to remain resolute in its efforts to combat crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.