The 6 Division Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, has paraded 12 individuals involved in illegal oil activities, as well as one Desmond Okeh for impersonation.
During the parade at the Army Headquarters, Brigadier General E.U. Effiong, the Commander of 6 Division Garrison and Sector 3 Commander of Operation Delta Safe Military Joint Taskforce, explained that the purpose of parading the suspects was to expose the faces behind oil bunkering in the region and to curb illegal oil activities.
The 12 suspects, who are part of an oil bunkering syndicate, were apprehended on July 2nd and 3rd. Effiong emphasized the importance of curbing such activities in the Niger Delta, as they can negatively impact the economy due to the significance of crude oil to Nigeria’s economic stability.
Lieutenant Colonel Ikedichi Iweha, spokesperson for the 6 Division Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, confirmed the arrests in a statement. He explained that the suspects were caught siphoning crude oil from the Rumuekpe/Okporowo pipeline near Okoba community in Ahoada East Council of the state. The troops recovered items such as crude oil, motorcycles, wheelbarrows, and jerricans from the suspects at the time of their arrest. The suspects provided valuable information and will be handed over to the appropriate security agency for prosecution.
In a separate incident, the fake soldier, Desmond Okeh, was apprehended by the 6 Division Provost group on July 6th at a new generation bank in the GRA axis of Port Harcourt. Okeh was dressed in military camouflage and possessed a fake military ID card. He claimed to be Lance Corporal Okeh Desmond with a duty assignment of 16NA/75/2038. The suspect admitted to purchasing the camouflage material from Kotuku Barracks in Kaduna and having it sewn at a tailoring shop. He also confessed to buying the boots from vendors near the Alaba International market in Lagos. The fake pass leaflet was obtained from a cybercafe at Control Roundabout in Imo State.
It was revealed that Okeh had been arrested for the same offense in the past and handed over to another security agency for prosecution. Despite this, he continued to impersonate a soldier and harass innocent civilians. The public was urged to be cautious and aware that not everyone in military camouflage is a genuine soldier.
In his defense, Okeh explained that his love for the military drove him to impersonate a soldier after multiple unsuccessful attempts to join the army, despite being recruited through the academy.
These arrests demonstrate the Nigerian Army’s commitment to tackling illegal oil activities and impersonation, ensuring security and stability in the region.
