An ex-militant in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Deji Ehinmowo, has alleged that operatives of the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police, including Divisional Police Officers, join militants in collecting money from illegal bunkerers in the riveting area of the state.
The former convict made the allegation when he was paraded by the Ondo State Police Command in Akure on Tuesday.
Ehinmowo said as an ex-militant, he does not steal crude or burst pipelines but engages in collection of money from those who do.
He said bribes are also given to Soldiers and Policemen by the oil thieves for safe passage.
He said his arrest by the police was not as a result of illegal bunkering but a dispute with soldiers over his insistence on collecting N15,000 from a lady who wanted to pay N10,000 for safe passage.
He said: “We collect money from the illegal oil bunkers.
“They do not burst pipelines in Ilaje local government but people do pass through Ilaje to go to Delta and Bayelsa States.
“It is not only the ex-militants that collect stipends from them.
“The community and the DPO also collect money.
“The lady brought three vehicles and she paid N10,000 instead of N15,000.
“At times we make N50,000 or N60,000.
“It is the bunkering issue that brought me here.
“What I collect is camp money.
“It is an illegal business and they agreed to be paying us to allow them to pass.”