Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has revealed a disturbing new tactic employed by oil thieves in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, where children and women are used as human shields to protect illegal refining sites from security forces.
Speaking during a meeting with local government chairmen and traditional rulers in Yenagoa, the governor described the development as “an unprecedented dimension” in the fight against oil bunkering and illegal refineries.
“The report I received recently is that at illegal bunkering sites, they now have children and women, which is a dimension I have never heard of before,” Diri stated. He added, “Sometimes, when the military are authorised to destroy those camps, they get there on reconnaissance and discover that children and women are used to shield those places. So, we all have to work together in our domains to educate our people.”
Governor Diri urged traditional rulers to sensitize their communities about the health and environmental risks posed by illegal oil activities and called for collaborative efforts to end the menace.
He identified Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor, Brass, and Nembe as hotspots for illegal oil bunkering in Bayelsa and charged monarchs and council leaders to report any illegal refinery activities within their jurisdictions.
The governor noted that security agencies have intensified operations to dismantle illegal oil refineries, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive of zero tolerance for oil theft. Despite the renewed crackdown, Diri emphasized the need for community engagement and vigilance to address the issue sustainably.
The meeting also highlighted the environmental degradation caused by these activities, with the governor reiterating the state’s commitment to ensuring cleaner and safer environments for its residents.
