Soldiers arrest two suspected pipeline bombers

Soldiers combing some communities in the Niger Delta geopolitical zone for vandals who bombed oil and gas installations in the area, have arrested two suspected pipeline bombers on Monday.

The Commander, Operation Pulo Shield, Maj. Gen. Alani Okunlola,   told journalists in Warri on Monday that the suspects, though claimed they were fishermen, were arrested around Gbasamadu community in Delta State while allegedly supervising oil exploration in the area.

Okunlola, who spoke at a gas pipeline in Egwa Community, Warri South West Local Government Area of the state, said the action of the vandals was a ploy to sabotage the nation’s economy.

He said the military would not fold its hands and allow the perpetrators to get away with crime.

Okunlola urged the government and community leaders to give security agencies working in the Niger Delta useful information that could lead to the arrest of the vandals.

The commander assured Niger Delta residents of Operation Pulo Shield’s determination to wipe out all acts of illegalities in the region.

Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide have condemned attacks on oil facilities in some parts of the state.

Okowa’s condemnation was contained in a statement issued and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Asaba on Monday.

In the statement, he called on the people of the state to cooperate with the security agencies to unmask the criminals behind the crime.

Okowa also urged the security agencies to intensify their surveillance over the oil facilities while urging the youths to shun any temptation to be lured into such an act.

The statement quoted the governor to have pledged his administration’s commitment to support all measures aimed at restoring the confidence of all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry operating in the state.

“These attacks should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians, particularly, the compatriots from the Niger-Delta region.

“This is an attack on our souls, the state is bleeding again and its implication for the economy and image of Delta State is grave,” he said in the statement..