Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has accused soldiers of the Nigerian Army of attacking contractors handling projects of the state government, especially in Ahoada-East and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas of the state.
He alleged that the said soldiers were possibly covering up their possible involvement in illegal bunkering of petroleum products in the two local government areas.
Fubara, who spoke on Friday when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, visited him at Government House, Port Harcourt, said the suspected officers were attached to a particular company in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area.
The governor said: “One special problem that we have here is the issue of bunkering. In some parts of the state, in Ahoada-East and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, most of the bunkering activities there, we believe, is subsisting because there is this cooperation between the Army and top oil companies.
“I’m saying this because there is this road we are constructing somewhere in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and each time the contractor approaches this particular company and plead that they allow them go ahead with our job. The military will always come and attack our contractors.”
Fubara, who explained how he had tried to resolve the problem without success, because of the vested interest that the officers have, urged General Lagbaja to call the soldiers to order.
He said: “Carrying out some assignments with any company does not give any person powers to decide for the State how things should be done. Look into the matter,” the governor added.
The governor commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and security across the state.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, said he was in Port Harcourt as part of visits to formations and units under his command following his assumption of office.
Lagbaja thanked Governor Fubara for the continuous support, intervention and cooperation with the Army to perform its operations that have fostered peace and stability in the state.
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