The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’S SIS) has arrested 17 suspects for their alleged role in a renewed hostility attack on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta region.

CSC Afolabi Babawale, National Public Relations Officer, NSCDC National Headquarters, Abuja, in a statement, said the CG’S SIS Boss, Commandant AS Dandaura, hinted that a high-profile syndicate of 17 sea pirates was arrested by his men in synergy with other sister security agencies following an intelligence-based coordinated operation at Tonogbe, Ekeremo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on March 6, 2025.

“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 rifle was carted away, Ebikame Seimeneyefa of Tantita Security was shot, and a Tantita speed boat was also hijacked and stolen.”

Commandant Dandaura relayed that an intensive undercover and investigative operation was carried out in synergy with sister security agencies and Tantita, leading to the successful tracking and arrest of the 17 suspects.

“We mounted a round-the-clock and relentless onslaught against the suspects in collaboration with sister security agencies and 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 neighboring states,” the statement said.

It said an investigation carried out by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad revealed that the suspects volunteered the following information: stating that the same syndicate launched an attack against the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum, Hon. Lokpobiri Heineken, at his residence on January 1, 2025.

“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 seven AK-47s, which were kept safe in the forest, but after refining the products one day, the suspect Emergency left suddenly and never returned.”

It said Ziakede Amatu later migrated from Rivers to Bayelsa State and hinted to some elders in his community about the seven AK-47 rifles, and he was advised to retrieve them from the hideout and use them for the protection of the community.

The suspect, Ziakede, after a failed attempt to join Tantita Security Services, procured Tantita Security Services uniforms to use in his renewed hostility attack on oil installations in order to divert attention, disguise himself, and sabotage the good work of Tantita Security while carrying out their dastardly acts.

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, they moved to vandalize oil and gas installations, which culminated in the attack on NSCDC and Tantita operatives, leading to the killing of the late officer.

The Commander of CG’S SIS thanked the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, for enabling the squad to carry out its responsibilities with the necessary logistical support, which has engendered its remarkable achievements in fighting crimes and criminalities and combating illegal bunkering activities in the Niger Delta.

NSCDC foils renewed planned hostility on oil pipeline installation, recover arms