Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has alleged that the Nigerian Army is now actively participating in oil bunkering cartel in Rivers state.
Wike fingered Jamil Sarham, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 6 Div in Port Harcourt of running a syndicate of soldiers through instructing them to vandalize oil pipeline to collect petroleum product for the GOC.
Governor Wike made this allegation on Wednesday while receiving a team of military personnel from ‘Operation Delta Safe’ in Port Harcourt.
In his statement, “the GOC now has a group of boy (soldiers) who are now actively engaged in oil bunkering on his instruction that he wants to make more money to bribe his way to be the next Chief of Army Staff. He opined that how can a saboteur like Sarham be made the Chief of Army Staff in Nigeria and expect security issues to be fixed?
Wike accused the Defence Headquarters of deliberately planting Mr, Sarham in Port Harcourt to scoop money for his paymasters in Abuja, and that is why they cannot remove him.
According to the governor, Mr, Sirham is engaged in divulging security meeting briefs to criminals and that is why the violence in Rivers state has remained unabated despite the effort of the state government to curb same.
The ‘Operation Delta Safe’ is a joint-security patrol in the Niger Delta region, which cases of oil bakeries and disruption of oil installations are being reported to. The courtesy visit to the government House led by Akinjide Akinrinade, a rear admiral and the commander of the operation.
Mr. Wike revealed it would be difficult for ‘Operation Delta Safe’ to arrest their own who are on a mission of oil bunkering eventually they encountered them in the creeks.
Although the Governor could not substantiate his allegation with evidence against Mr, Sarham. His media adviser, Oraye Franklin, told PREMIUM TIMES that he has nothing to add to the governor’s comments.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sarham declined comments about the allegations on Sunday morning. He admitted that the allegations are “grievous,” but said he has not received clearance to make a public statement as at 9:20 a.m. on Sunday.