EXCLUSIVE: Fisayo Soyombo Reveals Shocking Truth About Who Escorts Illegal Oil Bunkers, Calls for Overhaul of the System

Fisayo Soyombo Reveals Shocking Truth About Who Escorts Illegal Oil Bunkers, Calls for Overhaul of the System....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Fisayo Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), who was recently released by the Nigerian Army, shared that his arrest came while he was conducting an undercover investigation into illegal oil bunkering activities in Nigeria.

During an interview on AriseTV’s morning show, Soyombo expressed his concern about the high-level protection that illegal oil bunkers receive in the country.

“It would shock you to know the calibre of people who escort illegal oil bunkers out of Port-Harcourt,” he stated, revealing the surprising extent of involvement from influential figures in the oil theft trade.

Soyombo also criticized the army’s spokesperson, who he claimed compromised his security by revealing details of the investigation online. “The army spokesman already compromised my security by going online to say they found illegal bunkers,” he said, highlighting the risks posed by leaks in the system.

While acknowledging that there are honorable men within the military, Soyombo emphasized the need for a systemic overhaul to root out saboteurs who enable oil bunkering to flourish. “There are good people in the military, but we need to clean up the saboteurs who allow oil bunkering to thrive,” he remarked.

Soyombo expressed his frustration with the situation, stating that despite the challenges, he would continue with his investigations, even if it meant facing significant risks. “Rather than change my approach, I would rather stop and take a break after one or two more undercover investigations,” he explained. “It’s not about the thrill, but about exposing the wrongdoings that are harming the country.”

He also criticized the underestimation of crude oil theft figures, stating that the true scale of the theft is much higher than reported. “The figure being put out for crude oil theft is an underestimation,” he stated. “The crude we were supposed to move was for 50,000 barrels. If the man who got annoyed because he wasn’t bribed hadn’t spoken up, two trucks would have left with it.”

Soyombo further pointed out that the problem is not just with oil bunkers, but also with the institutions meant to oversee the sector. “It’s not just oil bunkerers who are thieves, but those meant to supervise the sector as well. What we need is an overhaul of the system,” he stressed.

In a separate statement, Soyombo expressed his gratitude to Nigerians, crediting their support and pressure on the Nigerian Army for his swift release. “Nigerians are not worth fighting for,” he said, recalling the common sentiment he’d often heard. “But yesterday, you proved me wrong. You all are the reason my detention by the Nigerian Army lasted only three days. I’m a free man today because of your social media engagements.”