Ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta including Alhaji Asari Dokubo, Ajube Bibopiri (Gen. Shootatsight), and Victor Ben Ebikabowei (Gen. Boyloaf) on Saturday held a meeting with the Amanyanabo of Okochiri town, Ateke Michael Tom at his palace in Okochiri in Okrika Kingdom, Rivers State.

It was gathered that the meeting was about moves to tackle crude oil theft in the region.

A source close to one of the ex-militant leaders who spoke on condition of anonymity said the meeting was convened to strategise ways to oversee the pipeline surveillance contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

According to the source, the ex-agitators also discussed the need for the surveillance contract to be shared or decentralised.

“While more specific details of the gathering remain undisclosed, it is apparent that it marked a unified front against the persistent problem of oil theft in the region.

“The stakeholders are resolute in their commitment to boost collaborative endeavours aimed at safeguarding the pipelines and the interests of the NNPCL.

“This collaborative approach has the potential to be a turning point in the ongoing struggle against oil theft, with far-reaching benefits for the entire region and the Nigerian economy,” the source stated.