Bayelsa Governor Reveals Oil Thieves Use Women and Children as Human Shields
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has revealed that suspected oil thieves are using women and children as human shields at illegal refining camps across the state. Speaking on Tuesday during a meeting with traditional rulers and local government chairmen at the Government House in Yenagoa, Diri said that security operatives discovered this alarming trend during recent reconnaissance operations.
The governor explained that the use of women and children to shield illegal bunkering sites was a new and disturbing development. “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 before,” Diri stated.
He further described how, in some instances, military forces had to withdraw during operations after discovering the presence of women and children at the camps. “When the military are authorized to destroy those camps and they get there on reconnaissance, they discover that children and women are used to shield those places. There was a situation where the military had to withdraw because of this,” he explained.
Diri called on traditional rulers and local government leaders to step up efforts in educating their communities about the environmental and health dangers associated with illegal oil refining. He stressed the importance of working together to combat the growing problem, which is prevalent in Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor, Brass, and Nembe local government areas.
The governor also urged monarchs and council chairmen to report any oil bunkering sites within their territories, emphasizing that collaboration with security agencies is key to tackling the issue effectively.
