NSCDC, foils attacks on Pipelines in Niger Delta, arrests 17 pirates, vandals

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC said its Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) has arrested 17 suspects for their alleged roles in renewed attacks on oil and gas  installations in the Niger Delta region. Those  arrested during the operation include Ziakede Amatu, Aaron Ekogbene, Abilene Adeseotu, Toukekenme Emmanuel Police, Ken David Timiprey, Ekogbene Isaac Pius, Guy Tigan Victor, Timothy Ebibakote, Odebor Abade Joseph and Zikena Kingsley, Others are Kelly Babylon, Dide Tuboukebuleye, ThankGod Ezu, Godwin Aseyapwayei, Timis Tokoni. Spokesman of the Corps, Afolabi Baba wale in a statement on Monday said the suspects had attacked own operatives and those of Tantita Security Service, a private initiative with contractual agreement with the Federal Government on pipeline surveillance.
He said the attack led to the killing of Assistant Superintendent Umar Aliyu with Service number 6363 and stealing of a speed boat belonging to Tantita Security Services. Speaking on the arrest, head of the squad, Commandant AS Dandaura hinted that a high profile syndicate of 17 sea pirates were arrested by his men in synergy with sister security agencies, following an intelligence-based coordinated operations at Tonogbe, Ekeremo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on the 6th March,  2025. Exhibits recovered include one AK47 riffle, two empty Ak47 magazines, charms, 15 Tantita Security uniforms, 15 Tantita Security T-shirts and 15 black boots.
“Earlier on January 21 2025, there was an attack against the Joint Task Force combining operatives of the NSCDC and Tantita Security Services at their Base in Torugbene II unit at Ekeremo LGA in Bayelsa State by suspected vandals and Sea pirates who were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons. Upon arrival at the base, they shot sporadically at the officers and innocent civilians which led to the killing of ASC Umar Aliyu, his AK 47 official riffle was carted away, Ebikame Seimeneyefa of Tantita Security was shot and Tantita Speed Boat was also hijacked and stolen. We mounted a round the clock and relentless onslaught against the suspects in collaboration with sister security agencies and the Tantita Security and succeeded in smashing the 17 deadly Sea pirates led by a notorious vandal, kidnapper and armed robber called Ziakede Amatu, who hails from Norgbene community in Ekeremo, Bayelsa State and has been terrorizing the community and all neighbouring states.
“From our preliminary investigations, the suspects volunteered the following information stating that the same syndicate launched am attack against the Minister of Petroleum (State), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri at his residence on the 1st of January this year. According to the kingpin, while engaging in illegal refining of petroleum products in 2023 at Abonema, Rivers State, he worked under another notorious suspect called ‘Emergency’ (original name unknown). They had 7 Ak 47 which were kept safe in the forest but after refining the products one day the suspect Emergency left suddenly and never returned. Ziakede Amatu later migrated from Rivers to Bayelsa State and hinted some Elders in his community about the seven [7] Ak 47 Riffles in which he was advised to withdraw them from the hideout and use them in the protection of the community.
“The Suspect, Ziakede after a failed attempt to join the Tantita Security Services,  procured Tantita Security Services uniforms to use in his renewed hostility attack on oil installations in order to divert attention, disguise and destroy the good works of Tantita Security while carrying out their dastardly act. Further confessions revealed that the suspects embarked on this mischievous blackmail against the Tantita Security Chairman, Ekpemupolo Owiezide Government aka Tompolo since they could not infiltrate and get some surveillance contracts sublet to them; hence the move to vandalize Oil and Gas Installations and this culminated in the attack on NSCDC and Tantita Operatives, leading to the killing of the late officer”.