“When Tinubu Appointed New Service Chiefs, I Observed a Shift in Oil Theft Patterns” – Professor Akinbulumo

According to a news article published by the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper Online this morning, Professor Sigismund Akinbulumo, who holds the position of a Criminology and Crime Control/Security Studies professor at the Department of Criminology and Security Studies, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), disclosed in an interview with a Tribune correspondent that two Nigerian states, once plagued by banditry, were reclaimed following the appointment of Taoreed Lagbaja as the Chief of Army Staff.

Akinbulumo

During the interview, Akinbulumo was asked to share his thoughts on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s performance as he completed his first 100 days in office. In response, he mentioned that while it might be premature to make a final judgment, he could still offer an assessment.

He stated, “Although it is perhaps too early for a conclusive evaluation, we can still make an assessment at this point. I observed a significant change in crude oil theft patterns after Tinubu replaced the service chiefs. There were widespread allegations that certain influential figures within the security sector were involved in crude oil theft. However, since President Bola Tinubu appointed new service chiefs, there appears to be a restoration of order in this particular area. The precise daily and monthly volumes of crude oil extracted from the country have become public knowledge, unlike in the previous administration when they were shrouded in secrecy. Therefore, I believe that the change in service chiefs has been beneficial for the current administration in the short term.”

The Professor also said, “Lately, an illicit oil bunker was discovered within a mansion in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, thanks to a strategic security operation that led to the apprehension of those behind this unlawful oil trade. This heightened security awareness has permeated the public consciousness, making individuals more cautious about engaging in criminal activities due to a sense of increased surveillance.

While concluding, he said that it seems that the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been proactive in addressing security concerns, which is a marked departure from the previous administration’s approach, and it is clear that the message conveyed to bandits and criminals nationwide, is that a new, more determined authority is now in control, signaling an end to business as usual.