The identity of crude oil thieves in Nigeria has been misrepresented in order for them to escape sanctions, said King Bubaraye Dakolo, Chairman of Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom.

He insisted that the Nigerian oil industry has been deliberate in misrepresenting the identity of crude oil thieves, thereby prompting security agencies in the wrong direction.

The monarch, who spoke at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Q4 Book Reading Programme at the Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, said those engaging in artisanal refining are not oil thieves, as erroneously assumed.

King Dakolo, who read excerpts from his book, “Pirates of the Gulf,” lamented that the government should be serious in going after oil thieves.

He noted that security agencies were aware that those stealing crude oil do not do so and hide it in their pocket, urged them to go after those with big vessels stealing Nigerian crude oil. The oil and gas industry has been deliberate in misrepresenting and leading the entire nation in the wrong direction.

And that is why, for instance, after close to three decades of concerted effort towards preventing oil and gas theft and vandalism and sundry acts, they have not been able to apprehend one oil thief.

“Most of those you think are oil thieves are actually victims of oil theft. The thieves are not labelled thieves by the media. Nobody steals crude oil and puts it in their pocket; you would need a vessel. In my kingdom, there is no single soul that has a vessel; so there is no oil thief there. Similarly, in several other kingdoms in Bayelsa, nobody has a vessel.” (The Sun)