The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People on Sunday accused the Joint Task Force on the Niger Delta of aiding and abetting militancy and oil bunkering in the region.
It alleged that prominent members of the nation�s security agencies provided vital security information, sold arms and shielded the oil thieves and militant groups in the region.
The group was reacting to a report by the JTF which indicted civil society groups in the Niger Delta of being involved in militancy.
MOSOP said in a statement by its Information Officer, Mr. Bari-ara Kpalap, that the JTF report was based on intelligence which was inconsistent with reality.
Part of the statement reads, �It is disturbing that instead of addressing growing concerns that the Task Force is involved in various human rights violations, including extortion and brutality, it is seeking the imposition of punitive attention on legitimate and law-abiding organisations in the Niger Delta.
�Besides the above violations, oil theft and militancy are said to be thriving in the region as a result of the connivance of the JTF as they are said to be aiding and abetting the activities of these outlaws for financial gains.
�Their involvement is said to range from provision of vital security information, selling arms and ammunition and provision of security cover to oil thieves and militants. These are serious allegations that should draw the attention of the JTF and not branding acknowledged peaceful organisations as militant groups.
�We call on government to discountenance the report as it is not credible but misleading and capable of sparking more problems than providing answers.�
MOSOP said the JTF�s attack on civil society groups was merely an excuse for an intending violent clampdown by the troops.
It said, �We find it difficult to understand that whilst the Federal Government is working with these organisations to resolve the Niger Delta crisis on the one hand, its security outfit marks them as militant bodies on the other hand.
�This trend, if not checked, in our view, would undermine the dialogue (peace) process. MOSOP would thus advise government to be wary of this spurious report callously authored to create negative impressions and fear in order to attract more funding of its violent operations in the Niger Delta.�
When contacted, the Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Mohammed Yusuf, asked MEND to substantiate its claims.
He challenged the organisation or any group in the Niger Delta claiming that the Joint Task Force was aiding them with information and giving protection to oil bunkerers to come up with a documentary evidence.
He said the military would not just act on rumours or allegations from militant groups, but will wait until the group could substantiate its claims.
JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col Sagir Musa also dismissed Mosop�s allegation as baseless and an ochestrated media campaign by some unlawful groups to intimidate and discredit the outfit.
He told our correspondent on the phone on Sunday night that the JTF was determined to dislodge criminals from the Niger Delta.