Officials of Southern
Ijaw Local Government Oil and Gas Taskforce (SILGA) have arrested three members of a gang of crude oil thieves, a statement by the council chairman, Chief Remember Ogbe has said.
“During a routine patrol of the rivers and creeks by SILGA taskforce that checks crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, thirteen armed bandits on board a speedboat out-sped the taskforce, attacking its personnel.
“Undetered by several warning shots by the Nigerian Navy in Peremabiri, officials of Southern Ijaw Oil and Gas Taskforce (SILGA) followed up with more warning shots.
“Maneuvering the boat to the shoreline, the armed bandits escaped into the forest. Afterwards, responsive community leaders reported Mr. Kingsley Otokolo and two members of his gang while seeking medical treatment for his injured thigh. They have since been arrested, while ten others are still at large,” said the statement.
It added, “By this announcement, the general public is requested to please report information related to the arrest of the other members of the gang,” and promised that those arrested would soon be charged to court.
The statement fingered one Paul Eris aka General Ogunboss as the mastermind of the attack, alleging that same had in “recent times carried out two botched attacks on his community (Peremabiri) to regain forceful control.”
