The
main coordinator of attacks on the NNPC, and Chevron oil and gas installations
in Delta State was paraded in Warri, yesterday, by the Navy.
His
arrest came barely 24 hours after the Federal Government extended the olive
branch to militants in the Niger Delta, who had been blowing up oil and gas
pipelines in the region through a two-week ceasefire to create room for
dialogue.
Parading
the suspected coordinator of attacks on NNPC and Chevron facilities 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 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. Both the suspected killer of security operatives and the alleged
mastermind of the NNPC and Chevron oil and assets attacks were hooded.
Commodore
Mohammed said the identity of the suspects were shielded so as not to
compromise ongoing investigations that would lead to arrest of his collaborators.
When interrogated, the suspected killer of a policeman and soldier, arrested in
Sapele, said that his friend, identified as “Oyile” was the mastermind.
However,
the suspect arrested for co-ordinating 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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