By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Men of the Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, have arrested one Seigbagha Perekeye over his alleged involvement in the vandalism of a pipeline belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, at Olugboboro community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Gas pipeline

Meanwhile, leaders of Olugbo Kingdom in the council have condemned the rising spate of attacks on the oil company’s facilities by suspected vandals as well as the tragic Easter holiday explosion allegedly triggered by dynamite left behind by the vandals that breached the Tebidaba-Brass delivery line in the area.

Security sources told Vanguard that the arrested suspect, an indigene of Olugboboro and four others now at large, were alleged masterminds of last Thursday’s attack on Tebidaba-Brass pipeline.

The suspect and his cohorts were said to have ruptured a section of the Tebidaba-Brass pipeline around the Olugboboro-Tebidaba axis, with explosive devices believed to be dynamites.

“We are on the trail of the other suspects and they will not escape justice,” said an official of NSCDC, who pleaded anonymity.

It was gathered that the leaders of Olugbobiri community acted swiftly and apprehended one of the suspects, Perekeye, with the support of operatives of NSCDC and the youth body while the others fled the community.

The leaders of the community, it was further gathered, alerted the oil company, which promptly shut in production to prevent the crude from spilling into the environment and also deployed personnel to clamp the ruptured pipeline.

Meanwhile, leaders of Olugbo Kingdom have condemned the incessant attacks on Agip pipeline by suspected vandals.

Chairman, Community Development Committee, CDC, Olugbobiri community, Sabi Morgan, decried the unwholesome activities of the vandals in the area and reiterated the continued collaboration of the community with the security agencies to rid the area of vandals and other undesirable elements.