Politicians behind out theft in Nigeria---CLO

(Nigeria) Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, Thursday, said that politicians were behind crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

Bayelsa State chapter chairman of CLO, Mr. Nengi James,  during a visit to the state’s Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ in Yenagoa, said  the ordinary folks in the region do not have the resources to engage in crude oil theft, which according to him, was highly technical and capital intensive.

"I am always disappointed when people say that the common people in the Niger Delta are those involved in oil theft. This is a fallacy.  The real thieves are politicians who use the ordinary persons as fronts. It is time the security agents go for the real culprits."

He advocated comprehensive life insurance for journalists, saying journalists operate under risky conditions in the country.

"Journalists operate under very risky situation in the country. It is imperative that organizations and government institute comprehensive life insurance for the practitioners," he added.

He called on the government not to overlook the root causes of restiveness in the Niger Delta region, adding that until underdevelopment, oil politics and poverty in the region were tackled, the problems would remain unabated.

Chairman, Federated Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Samuel Ese, appealed to those behind oil theft in the region to desist forthwith.

He said by their action, they were destroying the eco-system in the region, which if not checked would affect socio-economic development of the region.

"Oil theft is a serious issue in the region. No matter how people look at it, the consequences will outlive all of us. If you damage the environment, it will take a long time to heal. I appeal to those behind the ugly incident to remember that if they damage the earth, God’s anger will be upon them.”