BEVERLY HILLS, July 26, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the Joint Task Force,(JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, weekend, released one Monday Owhesiri, Special Assistant on Youth and Community Development to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who was earlier arrested in connection with the pipeline explosion at Ighwrenene community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The army also paraded two other suspects who were also arrested over the vandalisation of the pipeline belonging to Nigeria Petroleum
Development Company, (NPDC).
Although the Task Force was silent about the release of the governor’s aide, THEWILL learnt that Owhesiri was released after the
intervention of the governor as preliminary investigation indicated that he was not an accomplice to the crime but was set up by some elements in the area.
Addressing newsmen at the 222 Battalion headquarters, Agbarha-Otor, JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Isa Ado gave the names of the suspects as Dennis Oneya and Emmanuel Joseph (aka Ajegunle) of Uduere and Afiesere communities respectively.
Giving a graphic detail of the confessional statements of the suspects, Lt. Col Ado explained that the suspects having confessed to the crime admitted that they were sent by one Mr. Moris Idiovwa of Orogun community who is currently at large to carry out the explosion in order to secure a pipeline surveillance contract job from NPDC.
Ado further noted that the suspects also hinted that the explosion was the outcome of a meeting held with Mr. Idiovwa at an undisclosed hotel in Ughelli where it was agreed that they should embark on the act to hasten the approval of the said contract by NPDC.
“The suspects having concluded their plans, located a 16 inches pipeline on the night of 22nd July, dug it out and cut through it before setting it ablaze”, Ado added.
He also identified one Evans as the perpetrator of similar explosions at Ekrekedor and Ekuigbo communities in the area between March and April, saying that efforts were ongoing to arrest Evans who is currently on the run.
He disclosed that while efforts were on to arrest the fleeing members of the gang, a Toyota Hilux vehicle and one pump action gun with 77 live. cartridges allegedly belonging to Mr. Evans were recovered from the suspects.
