JTF nabs 5 pipeline vandals

The military Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to protect oil facilities in the Niger Delta says it has arrested five suspects for vandalising oil facilities in the area.

Commander of the JTF, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, told journalists on Tuesday in Yenagoa that two suspected kidnappers were also killed in multiple raids conducted in the area last weekend.

“Our efforts in tackling the activities of pipeline vandals resulted in the arrest of suspects that detonated dynamites resulting in the breach of an oil facility, located at Tebidaba-Ogboinbiri-Brass Pipeline in Bayelsa.

“Troops, who were acting on a tip-off, spotted a suspected hideout at a fishing camp along Isonogbene, in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa, where three suspects were arrested for complicity in the vandalism incident.

“Similarly, troops deployed at Beneside location, Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa also apprehended two persons, who were alleged to have been responsible for sabotage and theft of wellhead 6 actuator devices, an oil wellhead tool.

“Their criminal action led to disruption of the operations of the oil firm. The wellhead is currently under repairs,” he said.

Col. Jibril Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of the JTF Commander, noted that the successes recorded by the team was largely due to the support of residents and urged them to do more.

The commander said that troops deployed at Omoku Forest in Rivers also engaged some suspected armed kidnappers in a gun duel leading to the rescue of the kidnapped victim.

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According to him, the incident led to the death of two of the suspected kidnappers, while the victim is currently receiving treatment at a medical facility in Port Harcourt.

The Commander said that troops also raided a suspected pirates’ hideout at Eleme in Rivers and recovered several items, including ammunition.

He listed some of the items recovered to include 23 rounds of 7.62 mm Ball special ammunition, one generating set and a 40 Horse Power Suzuki speed boat engine, amongst others.

The suspects, however, escaped, he said.