Navy parades pipeline bombing kingpin
Wed Jun 08, 2016 07:57:am National
3K By Buchi Obichie
The Nigerian Navy on Tuesday in Warri, paraded the main coordinator of attacks on the NNPC, and Chevron oil and gas installations in Delta State.
His arrest came barely 24 hours after the Federal Government declared a two-week ceasefire in the Niger-Delta, and invited the militants who had been blowing up oil installations, to dialogue.
Parading the suspect at the Naval base in Warri, yesterday, Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship,NNS Delta, Commodore Ramie Mohammed, said he was arrested in connection with the attack on SPDC 48-inch export pipeline onshore Forcados.
The Commander, who did not want to be drawn into comments on whether the suspect was a member of the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, or not, said what was of interest to him was that the suspect carried out the attacks.
He said: "The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with other security agencies, has arrested the main coordinator of attacks on NNPC and Chevron oil and gas facilities we have witnessed since May 4 with the attack on Okan Valve Platform offshore Escravos. This arrest came after several weeks of trailing and arrest of several of his foot soldiers.
"This suspect is also deeply involved in pipeline vandalism to steal crude oil. He steals crude from about 35 abandoned oil well heads and pipelines in Okpoko and Obodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State. Navy believes with his arrest, attacks on Chevron/NNPC oil and gas facilities will abate."
Also paraded by the NNS Delta was a suspect arrested on May 29 for the alleged role he played in a gang's killing of a soldier, police officer and one other victim.
The two paraded suspects were hooded.
According to Commodore Mohammed, the identity of the suspects were shielded so as not to compromise ongoing investigations that would lead to arrest of their collaborators.
Upon interrogation, the suspected killer of a policeman and soldier told reporters that his friend, identified as "Oyile" was the mastermind.
However, the suspect arrested for coordinating blow-up of pipelines, told reporters he and his fronts bought stolen crude from one William, who allegedly siphoned products from abandoned wells in the Delta waterways.
His arrest came barely 24 hours after the Federal Government declared a two-week ceasefire in the Niger-Delta, and invited the militants who had been blowing up oil installations, to dialogue.
Parading the suspect at the Naval base in Warri, yesterday, Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship,NNS Delta, Commodore Ramie Mohammed, said he was arrested in connection with the attack on SPDC 48-inch export pipeline onshore Forcados.
The Commander, who did not want to be drawn into comments on whether the suspect was a member of the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, or not, said what was of interest to him was that the suspect carried out the attacks.
He said: "The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with other security agencies, has arrested the main coordinator of attacks on NNPC and Chevron oil and gas facilities we have witnessed since May 4 with the attack on Okan Valve Platform offshore Escravos. This arrest came after several weeks of trailing and arrest of several of his foot soldiers.
"This suspect is also deeply involved in pipeline vandalism to steal crude oil. He steals crude from about 35 abandoned oil well heads and pipelines in Okpoko and Obodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State. Navy believes with his arrest, attacks on Chevron/NNPC oil and gas facilities will abate."
Also paraded by the NNS Delta was a suspect arrested on May 29 for the alleged role he played in a gang's killing of a soldier, police officer and one other victim.
The two paraded suspects were hooded.
According to Commodore Mohammed, the identity of the suspects were shielded so as not to compromise ongoing investigations that would lead to arrest of their collaborators.
Upon interrogation, the suspected killer of a policeman and soldier told reporters that his friend, identified as "Oyile" was the mastermind.
However, the suspect arrested for coordinating blow-up of pipelines, told reporters he and his fronts bought stolen crude from one William, who allegedly siphoned products from abandoned wells in the Delta waterways.
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