The Nigerian Navy on Thursday paraded suspects, including two alleged operatives of the notorious Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), in Warri.
The new Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Commodore Joseph Dzunve, who paraded the suspects told journalists that his command had destroyed some five illegal oil refining sites within two weeks.
Besides the two suspected Avengers operatives, other suspects paraded included four suspected pipelines vandals, one alleged killer of a naval rating, who was said to have been part of several kidnap cases, and one Navy impersonator.
Giving details of the involvement of each of the suspects, Commodore Dzunve said the suspects were arrested during different operations. About the alleged Avengers operatives, he said they were arrested with incriminating effects on them when arrested.
“The person I’m pointing my walking stick at was arrested about a week ago, he’s suspected to have taken part in the murder of a rating sometime earlier this year. He’s also involved in kidnapping of citizens for ransom.
“Next to him here the person to his right are buyers of some of these illegal refined products, they were caught when we went for that operation last week. They are also suspected members of the Niger Delta Avengers.
“This one on my left here is a supplier of equipment they use for the bombing of pipelines, while the one on the right is the mechanic who repairs their boats which they use in conveying the materials whenever they have problems. Further investigation when we hand them over to the prosecuting authorities will reveal the extent to which they partook in those criminal activities”, Dzunve said.
The two avengers suspects were identified as Prince David Oyafogha (avengers mechanic) and Felix Ebiaedor (avengers supplier) while the suspected kidnapper was identified Ebiye Ozano.
Ebiaedor, who was reportedly arrested with equipment used for making explosives, like huge amounts of batteries and cables, said he was merely transporting the equipment to Chief Government Ekpemupolo’s guest house in Oporoza for some persons. He said he has been doing this since January.
“The cables and the batteries are usually brought down to the waterside by Akpos, Rowland and Godbless, whenever they bring them like that they charter the boat and Stanley is the name of the driver. They started early this year, in January. Whenever they bring it, we have a driver that take them down to Oporoza, to the guest house. The guest house belongs to the ex-militant leader, Tompolo”, Ebiaedor revealed.
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