A former minister of defense, Maj. Gen. Tajudeen Olarenwaju, came under fire on Friday from the Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) for associating the Federal Government-awarded pipeline protection contract with the deaths of sixteen Nigerian Army officers and soldiers in Okuama, Delta State.
Olarenwaju had said, tying the murders to the Tantita Security Services Limited contract, that it is dangerous for non-state actors to guard the nation’s oil sites.
In contrast, the IYN refuted the ex-minister’s assertions in a statement released by its Coordinator, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, stating Olarenwaju simply repeated the story being spread by oil thieves and their allies who were not awarded the pipeline contract.
Olarenwaju ought to be offering condolences to the Nigerian Army during this time of loss, the IYN continued, instead of igniting unneeded controversy.
The IYN claims that the retired general ought to be worried on finding and apprehending the people responsible for the military personnel’s murders.
The group argued Olarenwaju could hardly claim ignorance of the widespread theft of Nigeria’s oil resources, a reality that compelled the Federal Government to investigate the possibility of using private security companies in addition to the military and security agencies to safeguard oil sites.
Parts of the statement read, “It is shocking that the General is reducing the cold blooded murder of soldiers as a fallout 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.
“Such hurried viewpoints seem to suggest that some ingrained interest who are jolted by the gains of the campaigns of oil theft are at work.
“The military assets of the country are already over stretched. 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 US and the UK also employ the services private security consultants to maximize 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.”
