Posted by By Eugene Agha on
No fewer than ten suspected members of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force have been arrested by a combined team of soldiers and policemen posted to the Niger Delta area in search of members of ethnic militia group.
No fewer than ten suspected members of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force have been arrested by a combined team of soldiers and policemen posted to the Niger Delta area in search of members of ethnic militia group.
THISDAY checks revealed that security operatives have continued a man hunt for three fleeing members of the gang alleged to be the brains behind the attacks on various oil installations in Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states respectively.
The names of the fleeing suspects were given as John Onyemaechi Elugbe, 17, Kingsley Perekeme 22, and Solomon Kojo 28. It was alleged that the suspects had, in conivance with others at large planned to stage an attack on key government installations in the area to press home their demand for the release of their leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo currently standing trial in an Abuja High Court.
The arrest of the suspects and the subsequent manhunt for the fleeing members may not be unconnected with the recent presidential directives to the Inspector -General of Police (IGP), Mr. Sunday Ehindero to clamp down on all ethnic millitia groups in the country.
A combined team of armed soldiers and policemen were recently deployed to the comb the Niger Delta Region for suspected members of the Force for allegedly planing to disrupt free flow of operations in some oil installations in Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states respectively.
Though, the reasons for the planned attack were not given, source said it may not be unconnected with alleged attempt by the group to cause a break down of law and order in Bayelsa State over the arrest, detention and subsequent trial of Alhaji Asari Dokubo in an Abuja High Court.
A signal from the Police High Command in Abuja allegedly written to the Commissioners of Police of the three states directed the three state Police Boss to tighten security around key areas.
It was also stated that members of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force must be placed under surveillance and arrest if the need arises in case of a break down of law and order.
Indeed, members of the group were also said to be responsible for the temporary shot down of operations in some oil installations in the area recently.
A police source in the Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt, River State alleged that they have been able to identify some members of the group alleged to be the brains behind the frequent attacks on expatriates.
The source who gave the names of three members of the group as John Onyemaechi Elugbe, 17, Kingsley Perekeme 22, and Solomon Kojo 28, added that security operative have been detailed to fish out all those who might had a hand in the attacks.
"There are strong indications that some of the suspects particularly Elugbe and Perekeme may have bolted away from the area for fear of arrest and prosecution" the police source added.
However, in a dramatic twist of event, sources close to some of the suspects have alleged that there is a planned attempt by some security operatives in the area to commence a systematic killing of people opposed to the criminal activities of some multinational oil companies in the Niger Delta area. A statement which the police refuted claiming that it was blatant lies.
One of the source who simply identified himself as Goodness alleged that Elugbe and Perekeme were actually abducted by some security operatives and taken away to an unknown destination.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Haz Iwendi, however, could not be reached for confirmation, but another police source who spoke with THISDAY on the condition of anonymity said the war against all ethnic militia group was a presidential directive.