The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Tuesday said oil theft and illegal bunkering have reduced in Niger Delta.
Fielding questions from journalists in Uyo, Buratai said with the establishment of new army formations in the region, illegal activities were being checkmated.
The army chief was on tour of army formations in Akwa Ibom, including the newly established 2 Brigade in Uyo.
“Strictly speaking, there is no rise (in illegal bunkering and oil theft) because of the efforts of all the stakeholders – the military and other security agencies – working hard to make sure that the sabotage is checked,” Buratai said to journalists on Tuesday.
“That is why you see so many arrests, so many moves to stop the illegal bunkering. It is a new drive, new effort put by all the security agencies.
“You know that we have a new 6 Division (of the Nigerian Army) that has been established.
”By that establishment, we have more areas which hitherto have not been touched.
”We have an experienced General Officer Commanding of the division, who has gone virtually to those areas that hitherto have been isolated,” he said.
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