Metro

Police Arrest Five Suspected Pipeline Vandals In Bayelsa

Published

3 years ago

August 17, 2022

The Bayelsa State Police Command, on Tuesday paraded five suspects arrested by its operatives for alleged crude oil pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering and economic sabotage.

The command’s spokesman, Asinim Butswat, who briefed journalists on their arrests, said the suspects were allegedly responsible for two recent incidents of pipeline vandalism in the Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

He gave the identities of the suspects as Sutomwa Martins, Ebiebere Paul, Christian Ayibatariworio, Owori Clarkson and Beregha Kingsley alias Kalaboy.

Butswat said, “You may recall that on 30th July 2022 at about 0200 hours, pipeline vandals blew up a Trunk line carrying crude oil from Omoku to Brass Terminal at Etiama, Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

“In a related attack, on 11th August 2022 at about 0100 hours, the same vandals with the aid of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), blew up a crude oil delivery Pipeline at Obama Tereke River. This line also supplies crude oil to Brass Terminal.

“Worried by these attacks, the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Ben Nebolisa Okolo, fdc, charged the Command’s Tactical Teams to intensify efforts to arrest the perpetrators of these dastardly acts.”

According to him, the nabbing of Martins on August 6 at Agbura near Yenagoa, who had been on the wanted list of the command “for various offences such as kidnapping, sea piracy and pipeline vandalism”, led to the apprehension of the four others in a follow-up operation on August 12.

He said that the command’s operatives in collaboration with youths working for a private security outfit arrested the four others “after a fierce gun battle at their hideout in Nembe-Bassambiri.”

Butswat further said, “All the suspects have confessed to their involvement in the recent attacks on a crude oil delivery pipeline at Obama Tereke River and Trunk Line at Etiama, Nembe Local Government Area.”

He said the police command would continue to collaborate with other security agencies, community youths and relevant stakeholders to protect critical national infrastructure.

He added that the command would conclude its investigation soon and all the suspects would face charges.

Metro

Three-storey Building Collapses On Lagos Island, Many Injured

Published

14 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

A three-storey building has collapsed on Lagos Island, injuring some occupants.

The building is located on Asesi Lane around the Adeniji Adele Road.

According to Lagos State Information Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso, “Four persons have been rescued from the rubble. They have been taken to hospital.”

Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), among others, have since gotten to the incident scene.

Details later…

Metro

NDLEA Arrests Warri Chief, Ayirimi Emami’s Brother For Alleged Drug Smuggling

Published

1 day ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

… Group lauds agency

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Emami Ajetsibogho, younger brother to Warri Chief, Ayirimi Emami, for allegedly smuggling drugs worth billions of naira into the country.

It was gathered that the suspect was arrested by the agency’s strike force at Apapa in Lagos State Command following a tip-of.

Reacting to the arrest in a statement, rights activist and president, Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, Comrade Austin Ozobo, commended the agency and in particular Commandant-General of the NDLEA, Maj. Gen. Buba Marwa for fighting against drug illicit drugs

Ozobo said, “The arrest of Chief Emami’s brother is a milestone, laudable achievement in the fight against drug trafficking in this country.

“I want to commend NDLEA who were able to get the lead information to apprehend this criminal suspect.”

He added: “As Ijaw people, we are happy that God is vindicating us. The Itsekiris are hell bent to kill the Ijaw people to grab their lands.”

He recalled how a British Soldier from the Itsekiri extraction was recently arrested for smuggling guns into Warri to kill innocent people, especially Ijaw and to cause a crisis in Warri, adding, “God exposed him and DSS arrested the British Soldier and thwarted his evil intentions.”

He noted that another Itsekiri person has been caught allegedly trafficking drugs into the Country. “Who knows whether it was to drug miscreants to kill Ijaw people and burn villages? Ozobo asked.

“Ayiri particularly who has been making all kinds of unprintable statements against Ijaw people, we are surprised that his younger brother is a drug baron. Ayiri should be ashamed of himself.

“This shows that Ayiri Emami’s family is not a reputable family, by wanting to bribe NDLEA with a whopping sum of Two hundred million (N200m) to get his brother released. We thought Ayiri had a reputation, but it is shameful.”

Comrade Ozobo, therefore, urged the NDLEA to investigate the matter thoroughly and prosecute the suspect in line with stipulated laws to serve as a deterrent to others.

“I am calling on the NDLEA to investigate properly and bring to book anyone connected to this crime. If Ayiri is connected, he should be brought to book. Anyone connected connected should be brought to book,” he said.

Metro

Ekiti Court Remands Man Over Alleged Threat To Life

Published

1 day ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

An Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, has ordered the remand of a 31-year-old man, Caleb Ajobor, at the correctional custody in Ado Ekiti over alleged assault and threat to life.

The defendant was accused of conducting himself in a way that constituted a threat to the life of a woman, one Omotayo Olowolagba, at the Ekute area of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court on Wednesday that “the defendant on June 29, 2025, at about 10am at Ekute Quarters, Ado Ekiti, did assault and threaten the life of Olowolagba Omotayo.

“The defendant did hit the chest of the female victim and conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace in society.

“The offence committed is punishable under sections 185, 46, 181(d) laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria 2021,” the prosecutor stated.

Oriyomi pleaded with the court to order the remand of the defendant in the correctional centre.

Counsel to the defendant, Adunni Olanipekun, however, urged the court to grant his client bail, assuring that he would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, refused the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the correctional centre.

Adeosun adjourned the matter till July 11 for hearing.