Tension As Suspected Ex-Militants Set Agip Pipelines On Fire

Palpable tension and fears have enveloped the Egbemoru community
in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State as gunmen,
suspected to be former militants, set pipelines belonging to the
Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) on fire.

It was learnt that the development was due to an alleged
supremacy battle between some armed men over control and influence
of the surveillance contracts being handled by a certain security
company in the area.

It was also learnt that the attack on Agip Trunk A pipelines
route had led to the shutting down of other oil platforms along
Ogbeinbiri and other areas to avoid fire outbreak and destruction
of the crude oil supply route in the axis.

The suspected ex-militants, reportedly led by one self-styled
‘General’ Endurance, who is alleged to be a involved in illegal oil
bunkering activities, are said to be involved in the supremacy
battle against another former militant leader in Peremabiri
community.

They are said to be out to dominate and take over oil pipelines
security surveillance jobs in the area.

It was gathered that members of the Egbematoru community had
reached out to the Joint Military Task Force, codenamed Operation
Delta Safe (OPDS), to report the activities of the gunmen and were
awaiting the deployment of troops.

Efforts to get the spokesman for the JTF, Major Victor Odukoya,
to confirm the incident, were unsuccessful as his mobile phone
failed to connect several times.

Palpable tension and fears have enveloped the Egbemoru community
in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State as gunmen,
suspected to be former militants, set pipelines belonging to the
Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) on fire.

It was learnt that the development was due to an alleged
supremacy battle between some armed men over control and influence
of the surveillance contracts being handled by a certain security
company in the area.

It was also learnt that the attack on Agip Trunk A pipelines
route had led to the shutting down of other oil platforms along
Ogbeinbiri and other areas to avoid fire outbreak and destruction
of the crude oil supply route in the axis.

The suspected ex-militants, reportedly led by one self-styled
‘General’ Endurance, who is alleged to be a involved in illegal oil
bunkering activities, are said to be involved in the supremacy
battle against another former militant leader in Peremabiri
community.

They are said to be out to dominate and take over oil pipelines
security surveillance jobs in the area.

It was gathered that members of the Egbematoru community had
reached out to the Joint Military Task Force, codenamed Operation
Delta Safe (OPDS), to report the activities of the gunmen and were
awaiting the deployment of troops.

Efforts to get the spokesman for the JTF, Major Victor Odukoya,
to confirm the incident, were unsuccessful as his mobile phone
failed to connect several times.