The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bayelsa State Command, Wednesday, arrested and paraded a suspected criminal for allegedly planting dynamites that killed three oil workers in the state on Easter Sunday.
Three oil workers lost their lives in pipeline explosion that occurred in Olugboboro community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
The deceased were said to be carrying out repairs on a ruptured crude oil pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) when the tragedy struck.
But explaining the real cause of the explosion that killed the workers, the Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said they died of dynamite explosion planted by the suspect and his cohorts.
Agu explained that the oil workers successfully completed the repairs when the dynamites exploded and killed them.
The Commandant gave the name of the suspect as Seimghale Perekeyi.
He also named other fleeing accomplices as Emekoko Taribo, Pani Bulogbo, James Komo and Samuel Joyce.
Agu said: “The NSCDC has arrested a suspected vandal by name Seimghale Perekeyi. This vandal along with other vandals attacked Agip pipeline at Olugboboro, Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State on March 26, 2016 about 1830 hours with dynamite.
“The anti-vandalism unit of the command trailed and arrested him (Perekeyi) while the others are at large but are still being trailed by our men.
“The Agip had contracted the repairs to a servicing company to remediate and clamp the vandalised points. Our investigations reveal that the repair team had successfully completed the clamping on the damaged points and were leaving when explosions were heard in the nearby forest.
“Those explosions from the forest planted by the hoodlums resulted in the death of three persons. The NSCDC rescue team swung into action and recovered three dead bodies of the oil workers on March 28 who died as a result of the explosions.”
Agu, who paraded two other suspected oil thieves said Perekeyi would be prosecuted adding that his men on manhunt for other fleeing vandals.
The Commandant further said a notorious illegal oil bunkerer and an ex-militant leader, alias ‘General Yeri’, wanted for vandalising Agip facilities at Perigbene in Southern Ijaw were nabbed by NSCDC operatives.
He said they were undergoing trial and were remanded in prison custody.
Agu further said the command destroyed more than 400 illegal oil refineries in Bayelsa.
He stated the NSCDC’s zero tolerance for sabotage to critical national assets and stressed that the command was committed to ensuring their safety and security.
