Oil Theft: JTF Denies ‘Lobby’ To Serve In N’Delta

Leadership

24 February 2012

Oil Theft: JTF Denies ‘Lobby’ To Serve In N’Delta

The Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, code-named ‘Operation Pulo Shield,’ yesterday dismissed  claims by some politicians and columnists that some senior military officers lobby the Presidency to serve in the hierarchy of the task force in order to engage in rampant  oil theft in the region.

Some national dailies (not Leadership) and national television discussion programmes had in the last few days engaged in discussions over the alleged interest and lobbying from some top officers of the Nigerian Army to serve in the Niger Delta region because of the juicy returns from oil thieves in the region.

But the JTF, through a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa by its spokesman, Lt.-Col. Timothy Anthinga, denied that the task force promoted oil theft in the region, or that the military posted officers to the JTF and region due to lobbying.

He said: “The JTF wishes to note that the allegation by the presenter is clearly not a reflection of the reality on ground.”