Ben Dunno, Warri
A group, Niger Delta Security Network (NDSN), has accused members of a militant group operating along the creeks of Egbemoru community in Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state, as being responsible for the pipeline fire that occurred along Agip Oil right of way in the community last year.
It would be recalled that the surveillance contact awarded by the company to an indigenous firm had led to a breakdown of law and order over the sharing formula that must be adopted among the riverine communities youths that shared boundaries between Delta and Bayelsa state.
Making this indictment in a statement signed by Chief Frank Adagbabiri and Barrister Collins Opukeme, its Chairman and Secretary respectively, the group urged the operatives of Military Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta region to fish the members of the group and bring them to justice for their involvement in the act sabotage.
It disclosed that while some members of the gang were apprehended by security agents during the attack, the rest of them, including the five suspects mentioned escaped from the scene of the incident in fast moving speed boat that disappeared into Delta creek after being chased by JTF operatives despatched to the crime spot.
While stating that it was during interrogation of those arrested that the identities of those at large were made known to the security agent, the body reiterated the need ie the security operatives to go after them inorder to forestall further attacks on oil installations in the area.
According to the group; “The call for the arrest of these suspects had become necessary to avoid a repetition of what happened last year, as information made available has it that the same gang had started re-grouping to launch another attack”.
NDSN disclosed further that; “Based on information at our disposal it was clear that the absconded members of the gang, led by one Joseph Okuoma Faithful, are not relenting, as they have perfected plan on how to attack more facility belonging to Agip, even outside Bayelsa state, in order to get even with the management”.