The Operations Commander of the Operation Pulo Shield, Maj. Gen. Alani Okunlola, said their troops arrested the mastermind Prince Alvin Cockman Oyegun, alias ‘Commander Abula’ following a manhunt.
Okunlola said the suspect was arrested at Idema community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State recently. Okunlola said the manifold that was attacked was a 24-inch one that conveys crude oil and gas.
He added that the hunt for other suspects and accomplices was ongoing.
He said the command remained resolute in its fight to rid the Niger Delta region of oil thieves, pipeline vandals and other criminals. He urged the public to once again remain vigilant and report any suspicious persons to the Joint Force promptly.
The Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, of Operation Pulo Shield, Col. Ado Isa, in a statement recalled that some hoodlums had on January 28, 2016, bombed Agip oil pipelines located in Orukari, Golubokiri and Kpongbokiri communities of Brass Local Government Area of the state.
The dynamite attacks launched on the pipelines had resulted in massive spillage of crude oil from the Agip pipelines into the sea and fishing camps.