The Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta has many corrupt officers, the out-going commander, Johnson Ochoga, said on Friday.
Mr. Ochoga made the remark during the introduction of the in-coming Commander of the JTF, Bata Debiro, to the troops in Port Harcourt.
Mr. Debiro takes over from Mr. Ochoga, who assumed command of the JTF operating in the Niger Delta in February 2011.
The out-going commander said that any soldier found to be involved in corrupt practices would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the code of conduct of the army.
Mr. Ochoga said that the task force recorded major successes in the fight against oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the region in spite of the numerous challenges faced by the troops.
“There’s no organisation that will say it is 100 per cent clean (free of corruption); so also is with the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield.
“I’ll not say we don’t have bad eggs; but to those soldiers, every day is for the thief and one day is for the owner.
The army officer urged soldiers to resist the temptations to connive with oil thieves and focus in the discharge of their responsibility.
“I also want to appreciate officers and soldiers for their dedication to duty and hard work in the fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism,” he said.
He called on soldiers and members of the public to support his successor to rid the Niger Delta region of illegal bunkering and sundry crimes.
NAN