The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced the arrest of a 17-member gang allegedly responsible for the murder of an NSCDC officer and a series of violent attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta region.
The suspects were apprehended by the Commandant-General’s Special Intelligence Squad in collaboration with other security agencies.
According to NSCDC spokesperson Afolabi Babawale, the gang had been under surveillance by both the NSCDC and Tantita Security Services due to their involvement in attacks on oil installations.
The suspects reportedly stormed a security base shared by the NSCDC and Tantita Security Services, where they shot and killed an Assistant Superintendent of the NSCDC, stole firearms, and escaped with a speedboat.
“The arrested syndicate has a history of hostility towards oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta region,” Babawale stated in a press release on Monday. He also revealed that preliminary investigations have linked the gang to the January 1 attack on the residence of Petroleum Minister, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri.
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During the operation, security operatives recovered an AK-47 rifle, empty magazines, military uniforms, boots, and other incriminating items from the suspects. Babawale emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, and the suspects will soon be arraigned in court.
The NSCDC spokesperson commended the Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, for providing the necessary logistics that facilitated the successful operation. “The Commandant-General’s support has strengthened the corps’ ability to combat illegal bunkering and other criminal activities,” he said.
The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the fight against oil theft and related criminal activities in the Niger Delta, a region plagued by attacks on oil facilities and illegal bunkering.
The NSCDC has vowed to continue its efforts to safeguard critical national infrastructure and ensure the security of personnel in the region.
