The Bayelsa State command has arrested five suspected pipeline vandals who allegedly blew up a trunkline carrying crude oil from Omoku to Brass Terminal at Etiama, Nembe Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson of the command, SP Asinim Butswat, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, August 16, said the suspects also blew up a crude delivery pipeline at Obama Tekere River, which supplies crude oil to Brass terminal, with an improvised explosive device (IED) few weeks after the previous attack.
The PPRO said one of the suspects, Kelvin Sutomwa, has been on wanted list of the command for various offences such as kidnapping, sea piracy and pipeline vandalism.
“In recent times, the Bayelsa State Police Command was confronted with reported cases of pipeline vandalism, sea piracy and illegal oil bunkering activities. These crimes have negatively impacted our environment – most especially the Marine life – and the economy of the country at large,” the statement read.
