The Joint Task Force (JTF), code name: ‘Operation Pulo Shield’ has arrested three suspects, including two teenagers and an elderly man in Sumoge community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta, while fishing close to the Chevron oil flow station, “Okan platform”. They were alleged to be oil pipeline vandals.
According to reports, the community did not know about their arrest until Saturday morning when it was discovered that the suspects had not returned home from their fishing. The Sumoge community has, therefore, called for the release of their sons from military custody.
“We thought their boats capsised in the sea, so we sent a search party to recover their bodies only for us to discover that they were arrested by security agents guiding pipelines,” A legal practitioner and an indigene of the community, Mr Taiwo Orisabinone, said.
“They are underage and we found their fishing nets on the waters. We have settled in that community for long and fishing has always been our means of livelihood.
“It will be unfair to arrest natives, who know nothing about pipeline vandalism,” he said.
