Security agencies foil another pipeline bombing attempt in Rivers

Along with their counterparts in the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, and other security forces, men from the Nigerian

Police Force reported on Wednesday that they had stopped an attempt to blow up another pipeline in Rivers State.

This occurred on the same day that state-organised labour vowed to go on strike if the federal government did not lift

the state’s emergency rule in a fair amount of time.

This comes as Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd), the sole administrator of Rivers State, was urged to be sacked

yesterday by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Briefing the media yesterday, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, noted that their joint

operations had been instrumental to the sustenance of peace in the state.

He said, “I extend our profound commendation to the joint patrol operations conducted by the Police, the armed

forces, and other sister agencies which have diligently executed their mandate to support the objective of the state of

emergency in Rivers State.

“Our collective effort has been instrumental in sustaining the peace and calm currently enjoyed in our dear state.

“It is imperative to emphasise that this phase of security activities is a necessary measure to prevent any potential

breakdown of law and order.

“The decision to deploy a proactive policing strategy was informed by an emerging atmosphere that could have been

exploited by troublemakers to plunge the state into insecurity and chaos.

“I assure the good people of Rivers State that this is a temporary phase, and in due time, we will all witness a more peaceful and secure state.

“Furthermore, I must stress the critical importance of securing critical national assets and infrastructure within Rivers

State. These assets are vital, not only to the people of Rivers State but also to the entire nation.

“Consequently, it is the collective responsibility of all well-meaning residents of the state to ensure their protection, particularly against oil thieves, vandals, kidnappers, cultists and other criminals.”

Adepoju disclosed that the security team foiled several attempts by criminals to take advantage of developments in

the state to vandalise critical assets of government, adding that one suspect died while attempting to detonate an

explosive on the pipeline.

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He said: “Over the past week, the joint efforts of the security agencies in Rivers State have, among other successes,

thwarted attempts by miscreants to vandalise pipelines which led to the death of the vandal in the process of trying

to detonate a pipeline at Aluu- Rumuekpe in Ikwerre LGA but for the quick intervention of security agents.

“In other cases of anti-criminal activities in the state, men of the security forces stormed the hideout of kidnappers

along Omoku Road in Ahoada East LGA on March 21, 2025, at about 0710 hours where eight male suspects were

arrested, and six male victims rescued.

‘’Items recovered during the arrest include two English-made pump action guns, two locally made pistols, four locally-

made single barrel guns with assorted rounds and catridges, three Q-link motorcycles, communication equipment, among others.

“Another case of criminality was voided in Onelga LGA on March 19, 2025, when two suspects were arrested with four dynamites, four switches and detonating pods and other IED enablers.

“This is in addition to the destruction of 30 illegal refining sites, 55 ovens, 20 reservoirs, 50 dug-out pits, 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil and about 10,000 litres of illegally refined AGO, which were handled in line with extant regulations.”

The CP urged members of the public to provide the Police and other security agencies with credible intelligence regarding individuals or groups and their conspirators engaging in vandalism.