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Suspected oil pipeline bombing kingpin arrested

Published

8 years ago

June 8, 2016

Suspected oil pipeline bombing kingpin arrested

A suspected main coordinator of attacks on the NNPC, and Chevron oil and gas installations in Delta State has been arrested by the Navy.

The suspect was paraded at the Naval base, Warri on Tuesday.

Parading the suspect, the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, Commodore Ramie Mohammed, said he was arrested in connection with the attack on SPDC 48-inch export pipeline onshore Forcados.

The commander however said he does not want to be drawn into whether the suspect was a member of Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, or not, adding that what was of interest to him was that the suspect carried out the attacks.

He said: “The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with other security agencies, has arrested the main coordinator of attacks on NNPC and Chevron oil and gas facilities we have witnessed since May 4 with the attack on Okan Valve Platform offshore Escravos. This arrest came after several weeks of trailing and arrest of several of his foot soldiers.

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“This suspect is also deeply involved in pipeline vandalism to steal crude oil. He steals crude from about 35 abandoned oil well heads and pipelines in Okpoko and Obodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State. Navy believes with his arrest, attacks on Chevron/NNPC oil and gas facilities will abate.”

The suspect were hooded, just as Commodore Mohammed said the identity of the suspect was shielded so as not to compromise ongoing investigations that would lead to arrest of his collaborators.

The suspect, while speaking, however told reporters he and his fronts bought stolen crude from one William, who allegedly siphoned products from abandoned wells in the Delta waterways.

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