Police, NSCDC launch manhunt for escapee pipeline vandals
…vow to punish killers of colleague
A combined team of officers of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC have commenced a serious manhunt for four suspected pipeline vandals who reportedly escaped from lawful custody in Delta State, last month.
Though some of the escapees are said to have been rearrested in the ongoing search, our correspondent authoritatively reports that two civilian casualties have been recorded in the process.
It was learnt that the team had acted on credible intelligence, stormed a residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State where in an attempt to capture their target one Jamiu Adisa Aina, they gunned down his sibling identified as Kazeem Taiwo Aina, 48, a motor mechanic.
The incident which occurred at Ogunmodede Close, Adigbe, Abeokuta about 3am, Thursday, August 25, 2022, left residents devastated as the whereabouts of the victim’s brother, Jamiu Adisa, remains unknown during our correspondent’s visit, today.
An aged woman who condemned the killing described it as jungle justice, extrajudicial and avoidable.
READ ALSO: Life & Style
“The sporadic shooting that heralded the bloody operation woke me up. What a barbaric gangsterism from our security operatives. I heard the so-called target came from Lagos to see his now deceased brother. My heart bleeds over the gruesome murder. This neighbourhood is not and has never be known as hideout for criminals”, she mourned.
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Abimbola Oyeyemi said “it is unfortunate that the unforeseen occurred in that operation but that will not deter the strike force that has a specific mandate to combat oil pipeline vandalism. I advise the fleeing vandals to surrender themselves or…”.
Also, in a similar operation it was learnt that the strike force had earlier shot to death one of the escapee pipeline vandals identified as Dauglas Eke Rochas at Aghalokpe Waterside in Ethiope east local government area of Delta State.
Speaking on the nationwide ongoing manhunt in Asaba, Delta State capital, the spokesman, NSCDC, Delta State Command, Emeka Peter Okwuechime said operatives of the command Special Intelligence Squad had been on the trail of four oil pipeline vandals who killed an officer of the NSCDC and escaped when a vehicle conveying them to a location ran into protesters along Effurun-Warri/Sapele road on July 18, 2022.
“Using hi tech our officers arrested five suspected pipeline vandals inside a vehicle on July 11, 2022. After interrogations and profiling, we decided to extend our investigation, four of them were being taken by our men to a location when the unfortunate incident happened, they escaped.
“I remember I assured the public that the suspects can only run, they cannot hide. With the cooperation of our sister agencies, two of the escapee suspects (Efetobore Uzi Oteri and Jubri Hassan) were rearrested in River State and Abuja a fortnight ago.
“The forth escapee suspect one Jamiu Adisa Aina narrowly escaped arrest when our strike force stormed his hideout in Abeokuta, Ogun State”, Emeka Okwuechime maintained.
The command Public Relations Officer also stated that the war against oil pipeline vandalism in Niger-Delta region is yielding desired outcomes.
He noted that the NSCDC in collaboration with Tantitta Security Services Limited (TSSL), a firm owned by Government ‘Tompolo’ Ekpemupolo has carried out several successful operations across the region.
The defence corps spokesman however warned those engaging in illegal oil bunkering to desist from doing so forthwith or be prepared to face the consequences.
Meanwhile, the police image maker in Delta State DSP Edafe Bright has expressed assurance that the police would continue to support the NSCDC towards reducing illegal oil bunkering in Nigeria.
