A vigilante group which monitors the estuaries of the Atlantic shores in Eastern Obollo has apprehended a notorious gang that specialised in vandalising crude pipes in the area.
The gang of eight young men, allegedly led by Mr Victor Nick, a native of Iko town in Eastern Obollo, was apprehended after its members had loaded the stolen items into a boat powered by a 12 horse power out board engine.
A vigilante group which monitors the estuaries of the Atlantic shores in Eastern Obollo has apprehended a notorious gang that specialised in vandalising crude pipes in the area.
The gang of eight young men, allegedly led by Mr Victor Nick, a native of Iko town in Eastern Obollo, was apprehended after its members had loaded the stolen items into a boat powered by a 12 horse power out board engine.
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The items included three units of 24 inch pipes reportedly belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
Crude oil pipelines are frequently vandalized by aggrieved oil communities sidelined in the distribution of oil wealth in Nigeria as a vendetta against the state for leaving their area undeveloped.
The bandits met their waterloo when the vigilantes, who had kept a close watch on the stolen items, zeroed in on them along Edowanik fishing settlement as they prepared to set sail into the high sea.
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A spokesman of the group reiterated their resolve to closely monitor their estuaries and oil facilities within the area from vandals to ward off criminal elements from their communities.
It was gathered that the bandits have been handed over to security agencies, which often turn a blind eye to bunkering activities whenever the criminals grease their palms.
Other members of the gang include Aniekan John Obot, Ndifreke Monday, Monday Moses John, Manaseh Joseph, and Sunday Joseph, all of whom are Akwa Ibom indigenes, and Emmanuel Anthony Ike, who is from Okigwe in Imo sate.
Some of the arrested vandals claimed innocence of the deal. Some of them said their boats were hired to convey items which were not known to them, while others claimed they were lured into the illicit business.
The police have not provided a comment on the arrests.
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