King Bubaraye Dakolo, Chairman of the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, has criticized the Nigerian government for failing to prosecute high-profile individuals involved in large-scale oil theft, which has resulted in the loss of over 46 billion between 2009 and 2020, according to NEITI reports. He asserts that the real perpetrators are influential figures with properties in affluent areas like Banana Island and abroad, not the marginalized Niger Delta youths often blamed.
Dakolo condemned the destruction of seized vessels, such as the MT Tura II, as a tactic to eliminate evidence and protect powerful individuals. He emphasized that these actions hinder thorough investigations and accountability.
Despite the government's expenditure of over1.5 billion since 2020 to combat oil theft, the issue persists, with daily losses averaging $10.7 million. Dakolo urges the government to empower security agencies and hold all culprits accountable, regardless of their status, to end the cycle of impunity.
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