In his first interview since being released by the Nigerian Army, Fisayo Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has shed light on the deep-seated corruption fueling oil bunkering in Nigeria.
Speaking on Arise TV on Saturday morning, Soyombo disclosed that he was on an undercover investigation when he was arrested. He unveiled the alarming reality of security collusion in illegal oil operations.
“It would shock you the kind of people who escort illegal oil bunkerers out of Port-Harcourt,” he revealed, emphasizing the systemic sabotage within the country’s military and security agencies.
Soyombo expressed concerns over his safety following a statement by the Army spokesman: “The Army spokesman already compromised my security by going online to say that they found illegal bunkerers.”
While acknowledging that there are “clean men in the military,” he called for the removal of “saboteurs who enable oil bunkerers to thrive.”
Despite the risks, Soyombo remains resolute in his mission.
“This is a new level for me that I need to do it. Rather than change my approach, I will rather stop. Maybe I have one, two, three undercover investigations and I will stop.”
He also highlighted the staggering scale of crude oil theft, revealing how 50,000 barrels of crude were nearly smuggled out due to security compromises.
“The figures being put out in terms of crude oil theft are an underestimation of what’s happening. There is no institution that can say for a fact the barrels being lifted daily,” he stated.
Soyombo further criticized both oil bunkerers and their supervisors, calling for systemic reform: “It is not only oil bunkerers that are thieves but those who are also meant to supervise the sector. What we would need is an overhaul of the system.”
His revelations paint a grim picture of a nation struggling with internal sabotage, urging Nigerians to confront these realities to ensure transparency and accountability.