The five pipeline surveillance workers seized by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta on Friday last week in connection with the bombing a Chevron Nigeria Limited pipeline at Makaraba community, Gbaramatu clan, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, have been released.
They were reportedly released on Wednesday evening.
Samuel Emiko, Alfred Timedi, Isaac Edinde, Henry Arogboritse and Kelvin Mordi were arrested by soldiers while on surveillance duty for a contractor to Chevron.
Ijaw leader, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, who is among the leaders that raised dust over the arrest confirmed their release.
“I am aware that they released them on Wednesday night, I want to thank you people in the media for crying out for us.”
“The released workers were asked to report next Wednesday.
“The 19th Battalion, Nigerian Army, Koko, handed them over to the Delta State Police Command, Asaba, from where they moved them to Bayelsa State and released them on Wednesday,” he said.
To avoid backlash against the company following a 72-hour ultimatum by its seven Gbaramatu-Ijaw host communities, top officials of Chevron, which facilitated their release, met with their families in Warri, and assured them that the company was trying to resolve the matter.
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