Oil Theft: Army To Overhaul Security Architecture In South-South

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has begun strategic moves to rejig the military security architecture to be in good stead to tackle the scourge of crude oil thefts, sea piracy and other organised crimes bedeviling the Niger Delta and the entire South-South region.

Lagbaja, currently on tour of military formations within the zone, explained that the exercise became necessary in order to ascertain the state of military infrastructure, the combat – readiness of the troops and their response to emergency situations.

The Army chief declared this at the weekend during his stopover in Akwa Ibom State to pay a courtesy call on governor Umo Bassey Eno, at the Government, House, Uyo, the state capital.

“My tour of military formations in the zone is to ascertain their locations, assess their activities and state of readiness for required operations,” he said.

Describing the reception in the state as exceptionally warm, Lagbaja, praised the state government for its logistics and infrastructural supports for the Military’s 2 Brigade, and by extension, the 6 Division covering the entire region.

Lagbaja, who once served as the 2 Brigade Commander in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, before being named by President Bola Tinubu, as the 23rd Chief of Army Staff, assured that he was conversant with the peculiar security challenges confronting the state in view of its unique geographical location, and pledged to partner the state government to surmount such security breaches.

However, the chief host, Governor Eno, who has offered to donate no fewer than 14 new patrol boats in aid of policing the water ways to ward – off oil thieves and other sea criminals stressed the need for a strong partnership with a view to strengthening security, especially around the coastal waters of Akwa Ibom and the Niger Delta region.

The governor lauded the Nigerian Army “for working hard and in synergy with other security agencies to keep the state safe,” pointing out that his creation of the new Ministry of Internal Security, headed by a retired Army General, aimed at ensuring a more coordinated partnership with the security agencies for sustainable peace in Akwa Ibom.

He, therefore, assured of his administration’s commitment to work with the COAS in a robust relationship that would enhance effective collaboration in other areas of mutual needs for overall peace and stability in the state, the region in particular and the nation in general.

However, Lagbaja said his tour of the military formations in the region was to ascertain their locations, assess their activities and state of readiness for required operations.