The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bayelsa State Command, has confirmed the arrest of one of the suspected militants who masterminded and blew up the Nigerian Agip Oil Company’s pipeline in the state.
A group of armed youths from Ikienghenbiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, led by Suoyou Ambu, Iyelawei and Fyneboy, had on Sunday allegedly bombed the pipeline along the Azuzuama – Ikienghenbiri axis of the trunk line conveying crude oil from the Agip flowstation at Tebidaba to Brass.
While Suoyou, the alleged ring leader, Iyelawei and Fyneboy are said to be on the run, the state Commandant, NSCDC, Desmond Agu, confirmed the arrest of one of the militants identified simply as Peregbakumo.
Agu at a news conference in the state command’s headquarters on Monday, said Peregbakumo was arrested through the help of the community leaders.
The state Commandant said the arrested suspect was in the custody of the command, noting that the NSCDC in its resolve to protect and secure the critical national assets in the state would arraign and diligently prosecute the suspect.
Agu added, “We are on the trail of other suspects who are on the run and we will surely apprehend them.
“We want to thank the Ikeinghenbiri community for the efforts in helping to track the menace of vandalism in the state.
“We are appealing to other communities to toe a similar path in this collective war against pipeline vandalism, economic sabotage and environmental pollution.”
He sounded a note of warning to aggrieved youths in the state to explore other peaceful means of expressing their demands instead of resorting to destroying national assets and their environment.
He reiterated the corps commitment and readiness to protect the national assets and government properties in the state.
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