Two suspects arrested allegedly for attacking gas pipeline in Ighwrenene community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, have confessed to have carried out the attack in other to secure a pipeline surveillance contract job from Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, (NPDC).
Addressing newsmen at the 222 Battalion headquarters, Agbarha-Otor, JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Isa Ado explained that the suspects having confessed to the crime admitted that they were sent by one Mr. Moris Idiovwa of Orogun community who is currently at large to carry out the explosion of the pipeline in other to secure a pipeline surveillance contract job from NPDC.
Giving a graphic details of the confessional statements of the suspects, Lt. Col Ado, gave the names of the suspects as Dennis Oneya and Emmanuel Joseph (aka Ajegunle) of Uduere and Afiesere communities respectively.
Ado further noted that the suspects also hinted that the explosion was the outcome of a meeting held with Mr. Idiovwa at an undisclosed hotel in Ughelli were it was agreed that they should embark on the act to hasten the approval of the said contract by NPDC.
“The suspects having concluded their plans, located a 16inches pipeline on the night of 22nd July, dug it out and cut through it before setting it ablaze", Ado added.
He also identified one Evans as perpetrator of similar explosions at Ekrekedor and Ekuigbo communities in the area between March and April saying that efforts is still on to arrest Evans who is currently on the run.
He noted that while efforts are on to arrest fleeing members of the gang, a Toyota Hilux vehicle and one pump action gun with 77 live cartridges belonging to Mr. Evans were recovered from the suspects.
Meanwhile, one Monday Owhesiri, Special Assistant on Youth and Community Development to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who was earlier arrested in connection with the pipeline explosion have been released by the Task Force.
Although the Task Force were silent about the release of the governor's aide, reliable sources revealed that Owhesiri was released after the purported intervention of the governor as preliminary investigation of the Task Force indicates that he was not an accomplice in the crime but was set up by some elements in the area.
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