The Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) has faulted a former Minister of Communications, Maj.-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, over his comment on the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama community in Delta State.

The IYN said Olanrewaju’s claim that it is unsafe for non-state actors to protect oil pipelines in the country at this critical time is curious and wrong.

The group, in a statement issued by its Coordinator, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, on Friday, March 22, 2024, said the former minister’s statement only reechoed the same misguided and false narrative being allegedly peddled by frustrated oil thieves and their cohorts who did not get the pipeline contract of the NNPCL.

The group stressed that Olanrewaju should be condoling the Nigerian Army at its moment of grief and not to dabble into or steer “needless controversy”.

The IYN said Olanrewaju should be concerned about how to track down and arrest those responsible for the killing of soldiers, adding that the former minister cannot claim ignorance of oil theft by some Nigerians and their foreign collaborators which, it said, made former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari and the NNPCL to explore the use of capable private security outfits to complement the efforts of the military and security agencies.

The group, however, urged President Bola Tinubu and the NNPCL to continue with the decisive policy against oil theft which, it said, has increased oil production and has been applauded across the country.

Soldiers’ killing: I won’t allow anyone undermine Nigeria’s security, says Tinubu

It said: “The military assets of the country are already overstretched. Successive presidents have engaged private security outfits to fight the lethal scourge of oil theft in Nigeria. It is not unusual and it is a trend that is commonplace around the world.

“Even developed countries such as the U.S. and the UK also employ the services of private security consultants to maximise security of critical assets and facilities.

“Prior to the renewal of the contract of Tantita Security Services, the general had not found it necessary to besiege the media space about the purported inappropriateness of engaging private security outfit to fight oil theft.

“Perhaps, the various feats accomplished by Tantita and the widespread recognition accorded to the company should convince the General that private security outfits do not constitute any danger to the security of the nation’s critical oil pipeline.

“What should be of concern to the general is the sad story of oil theft that made the President and the NNPC to seek proactive response to the problem that threatened the nation’s existence.

“It is shocking that the general is reducing the cold-blooded murder of soldiers as a fall out of gang violence in the region. This is an attempt to twist the facts of the matter.

“There is no link between the private security outfits and the gruesome murder of soldiers on lawful duty. This rush to throw curious, unsolicited advice should be beneath him.

“His suggestion is personal opinion inspired by lack of understanding of the story of the nation’s oil sector or a classic case of selective amnesia.

“A General’s statement shouldn’t be in that direction.”

The Star