Military arrests suspected pipeline bombers
• Three feared killed in rescue attempt
• Govt meets ex-militants, moves to end oil
facilities’ Bombing
The military has arrested some suspected members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) group allegedly involved in the destruction of oil facilities in the Niger Delta.
While parading the suspects alongside recovered arms and ammunition before journalists, the commander of the troops who arrested them, Brig.-Gen. F. Yahaya, said that they were seized in Oporoza community, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state.
Besides, three persons in a boat were feared killed yesterday as they allegedly tried to rescue scores of women and children hiding in swamps around Oporoza town in Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South West Council, Delta State.
The three young men, according to the spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Mr Eric Omare, who were riding in a 40-horse power boat came under heavy shelling from soldiers as they tried to rescue women and children who ran into the swamps when the heavily armed troops took over Oporoza.
The fate of the boat operators is still unknown.
However, in a demonstration of its resolve to end pipeline bombings, the Federal Government on Saturday in Benin City, Edo State capital met with former militants where they resolved to work together to end the scourge in the Niger Delta.
As part of the peace process, the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) yesterday said it was mediating in the renewed attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta and clashes between farmers and herdsmen in various parts of the country.
Vice-President of WAY, Mr. Preye Ketebu-Brown, said yesterday in Yenagoa that the world youth body would tour crises-affected spots in Nigeria as party of its mediation plan for conflict resolution.
Meanwhile, a detachment of troops of the Operation Pulo Shield yesterday averted an attack on Agip oil pipeline by suspected militants operating in the Brass region of Bayelsa State .
A statement issued by the acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, said that in the operation carried out by troops of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, while on patrol within the general area of Gulobokri and Eweleso, around Brass area in Bayelsa State, the troops encountered the militants coming in two boats.
”During the exercise, the patrol team had an encounter with some armed militants in 2 Speed boats with intents to blow up Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) pipeline at Gulobokri.”
Yahaya also revealed that some of the weapons recovered from them included pistol and magazines, live cartridges explosive devices, ipads, lap tops, combat boot, dagger, cable wire, speed boat throttle cable, and 28 detonator cords.
Also recovered were 15 handheld radio sets, 18 phones, 203 SIM cards belonging to three major network providers, five swimsuits, two headlamps, a camera. Others are seven wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, six pairs of hand gloves, a cash sum of N23,000 and a cheque book.
He vowed that the army would apprehend the suspects involved in the destruction of oil pipelines, adding that although an investigation would reveal the true identity of the suspects, recent explosions carried out by the Niger Delta Avengers suggested that the arrested suspects may be connected to the group.
On the speculation that the militants may have adopted the use of charms to evade arrest, Yahaya said: “Whatever a person wants to use, he can use it. But I know that God is always on the side of the truth. We are not worried by voodoo. It did not stop the suspects from being arrested and others that have been arrested before now.
“Operations that led to these arrests and recoveries were conducted professionally, guided by our mandate, operation orders, code of conduct and rules of engagement. Our operations are strictly targeted against perpetrators of all criminal acts in our area of responsibility and not innocent citizens,” he added.
The brigade commander, who noted that the suspects would be handed over to prosecuting security agencies at the end of a preliminary investigation, however, called on the general public to provide the military with relevant information on militants groups which would assist it to combat criminal elements in the interest of the country.
The meeting was convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd) during which he had interactions with phases one, two, three former militants of the amnesty programme drawn from Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo states.
The meeting lasted for over six hours where he told the ex-militants that it was their responsibility “to make sure that security in our environment is well sorted out. Please let us do everything we can to make sure that (vandalism) doesn’t occur again,” he stated.
Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Boro lamented the spate of recent bombings of oil facilities which he said were inflicting pains on Nigerians and reducing the economic fortune of the country.
He said that plans were on to provide welfare and housing scheme for the former militants aside from its ongoing programmes and projects.
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1 Comments
Mr. President treat them the way Jonathan treat Boko Haram. Both the
Niger Delta Terrorist & Boko Haram are Threat to National security.
We will review and take appropriate action.