Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has revealed a disturbing new tactic employed by oil thieves in the region—using women and children as human shields to protect illegal bunkering sites from security forces. The revelation came during a meeting with local government chairmen and traditional rulers in Yenagoa, where the governor discussed the alarming rise in this dangerous strategy.
Governor Diri explained that security operatives, on routine reconnaissance missions, have uncovered the troubling use of women and children at illegal oil refining sites. These criminals have strategically placed innocent civilians around their refineries to prevent military action, knowing that the presence of vulnerable individuals would compel troops to withdraw.
“This is a dimension I have never heard of before,” Diri remarked, noting that such tactics were recently discovered at illegal bunkering sites. He emphasized that the military, in its efforts to dismantle these operations, has been forced to pull back due to the presence of women and children.
The governor called on traditional rulers to play an active role in educating their communities about the dangers of illegal oil theft, both to human health and the environment. He noted that this practice is most prevalent in the Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor, Brass, and Nembe local government areas, which have seen a rise in illegal oil activities.
Diri urged the monarchs and council chairmen to take immediate action by reporting these illegal bunkering sites in their domains. He stressed that the ongoing security crackdown on illegal refineries in the Niger Delta, backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s zero-tolerance policy, can only succeed through the collective efforts of local leaders and the community.
The renewed push against illegal oil refineries has led to the destruction of many bunkering sites across the region, as security agencies continue their mission to curb the rising tide of oil theft.
Comments