The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has arrested 17 suspects linked to a recent attack on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta.
The arrest was stated in a statement signed by the corps spokesman, Afolabi Babawale, on Monday.
According to the statement, the operation, which took place in the early hours of March 6, 2025, led to the apprehension of individuals believed to be responsible for the murder of Assistant Superintendent Umar Aliyu with Service number 6363 and the theft of a speedboat from Tantita Security Services.
The Head of the Squad, Commandant Apollos Dandaura, noted that the coordinated operation, carried out in synergy with other security agencies, targeted the suspects in the Ekeremo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“Earlier in January 21st, 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,” Dandaura was quoted saying.
After an intensive undercover investigation, the CG’s SIS team tracked down and apprehended the criminals, including the notorious leader Ziakede Amatu.
“We mounted a round-the-clock and relentless onslaught against the suspects in collaboration with sisters 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,” the statement added.
The statement noted that Amatu, originally from the Norgbene community in Bayelsa, had been terrorising the region and had even previously attempted to infiltrate the Tantita Security Services.
Authorities revealed that Amatu and his group were behind multiple criminal activities, including illegal refining and attacks on oil installations.
Further investigation revealed that Amatu’s group had planned the attack on the NSCDC and Tantita operatives as part of a larger effort to disrupt the security operations and gain control over oil facilities.
They reportedly sought to destroy the reputation of Tantita Security Services and disrupt the progress made by the organization in securing oil and gas pipelines in the region.
The suspects confessed to their involvement in illegal refining activities in Abonima, Rivers State, in 2023. They also admitted to stealing sophisticated firearms and using them to protect their illegal operations.
The stolen rifles were hidden in a forest and later brought out by Amatu after he received advice from local elders to use them for community protection.
In a bid to disguise their true intentions, the group procured uniforms from Tantita Security Services, attempting to mislead the public and law enforcement during their attacks.
“Further confession 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 vandalise Oil and Gas Installations and this culminated to the attack on NSCDC and Tantita Operatives, leading to the killing of the late officer,” the statement revealed.
Among the suspects arrested were individuals identified as Aaron Ekogbene, Ebimene Adeseotu, Toukekenme Emmanuel Police, Ken David, Timiprey Ekogbene, and Isaac Pius, among others. During the operation, investigators recovered an AK-47 rifle, several empty magazines, and multiple Tantita Security uniforms, including boots and shirts.
The statement added that Dandaura commended the support of NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, for “enabling the Squad to carry out her responsibilities with necessary logistic support which has engendered its remarkable achievements in fighting crimes and criminalities, combating illegal bunkering activities in the Niger Delta, carrying out Investigative operations and dislodging criminal-minded persons from their hideouts.”
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