A suspected leader of the notorious militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), was on Thursday paraded by the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, as part of the activities of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), in Warri. Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Joseph Dzunve, while parading the suspect, who identified himself as Abraham Suru, also known as Gabon, said the arrested suspect is a gang leader in the ranks of the NDA, adding that he had been notorious for other forms of criminal activities, including pipeline vandalism, sea robbery and oil theft.
According to Dzunve, Gabon, who had earlier been mentioned by some suspects arrested in the past as a leader in the cell of vandals destroying oil pipelines in the Warri North council area of the state, was arrested on Tuesday, September 20, in the Sapele general area.
“As part of the ongoing efforts by the federal government to stop crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities in the nation’s maritime domain, the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, being part of Operation Delta Safe, has arrested a notorious gang leader, who has been in this criminal business since 2011. He is involved in pipeline vandalism, sea robbery, attacks on ships, illegal bunkering and currently a suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers.
“The Nigerian Navy in general, and the NNS Delta in particular, is not relenting in the fight against crude oil theft and other illegal activities such as sea robberies, attacks on shipping and the Niger Delta Avengers. The Nigerian Navy remains committed in apprehending those behind all forms of criminal activities in the Nigerian maritime domain”, the naval boss said.
Meanwhile, while responding to questions, the suspect said he was not a member of the NDA, but confirmed that he had been involved in attacks on pipelines in the region, adding that he was recruited by one late ‘General’ Alpha Polo because he was deemed capable for the jobs.
“Let me talk for you to understand me, Alpha Polo said as his community, Opia community in Dibi, has oil and the youths were not being recognised, he decided that we should bomb some pipe so that he would be recognised by the company and give us work.
“Me and Alpha Polo bombed two pipes in Dibi in 2011. But he died earlier this year and I have not been going for operations since then, but this man called General Felix and one Stanley Osiso have been doing it. General Felix used me to work. They call me Gabon”, the suspect told journalists.
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