The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says operatives of the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’S SIS) have arrested 17 suspects for their alleged involvement in renewed hostility and attacks on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta region.
CG’S SIS Boss, Commandant A.S Dandaura, disclosed this on Monday, while addressing correspondents, saying that the suspects are also responsible for attacking NSCDC operatives and Tantita Security Service base, which led to the killing of Assistant Superintendent Umar Aliyu, and stealing of a speed boat belonging to Tantita Security Services.
Speaking on the arrests, Dandaura revealed that the sea pirates were arrested by his men in synergy with other sister security agencies, following intelligence-based coordinated operations at Tonogbe, Ekeremo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on the 6th March, 2025.
Dandaura recalled that earlier in January, there was an attack against the Joint Task Force of the NSCDC and Tantita Security Services at their base in Torugbene II unit at Ekeremo LGA in Bayelsa State by suspected vandals and sea pirates who were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons.
“Upon arrival at the base,they shot sporadically at the officers and innocent civilians which led to the killing of ASC Umar Aliyu, and the carting away of his AK-47 official rifle. One Ebikame Seimeneyefa of Tantita Security was shot and a Tantita speed boat was also hijacked and stolen”, Dandaura explained.
He relayed that an intensive undercover and investigative operation was carried out in synergy with sister security agencies and Tantita, which led to the successful tracking and arrest of the 17 suspects.
“We mounted a
round-the-clock and relentless onslaught against the suspects in collaborations with sister security agencies and the Tantita Security and succeeded in smashing the 17 deadly sea pirates led by a notorious vandal, kidnapper and armed robber called Ziakede Amatu, who hails from Norgbene community in Ekeremo, Bayelsa state, and who has been terrorizing the community and all neighbouring states”.
He said further, that the
CG-SIS operatives got the suspects to volunteer information, one of which was their owning up to their involvement in a launched attack against the State Honourable Minister of Petroleum, Hon. Lokpobiri Heineken at his residence on the 1st of January this year.
“According to the kingpin, while engaging in illegal refining of petroleum products in 2023 at Abonima Rivers state, he worked under another notorious suspect called “Emergency” (original name unknown). They had 7 AK-47 which was kept safe in the forest but after refining the products one day the suspect, Emergency, left suddenly and never returned”.
Dandaura added that Ziakede Amatu later migrated from Rivers to Bayelsa State and hinted some elders in his community about the seven [7] AK-47 rifles which he was advised to extract from the hideout and use them to protect the community.
Ziakede after a failed attempt to join the Tantita Security Services, procured Tantita Security Services uniforms to use in his renewed hostility attack on oil installations in order to divert attention, disguise and destroy the good work of Tantita Security while carrying out their dastardly act.
Further confession revealed that the suspects embarked on this mischievous blackmail against the Tantita Security Chairman, Ekpemupolo Owiezide Government aka Tompolo since they could not infiltrate and get some surveillance contracts sublet to them; hence the move to vandalise oil and gas installations which culminated to the attack on NSCDC and Tantita Operatives, leading to the killing of the late officer.
The suspects arrested during the operation are:
Ziakede Amatu, Aaron Ekogbene, Ebimene Adeseotu, Toukekenme Emmanuel Police, Ken David Timiprey, Ekogbene Isaac Pius, Guy Tigan Victor, Timothy Ebibakote and Odebor Abade Joseph.
Others are Zikena Kingsley,
Kelly Babylon,
Dide Tuboukebuleye, ThankGod Ezu, Godwin Aseyapwayei, Timis Tokoni,
Ken David, Timiprey Ekogbene, and Timis Tokoni.
Exhibits recovered are as follows: 1 AK-47 rifle, 2 empty AK-47 magazines, charms,
15 pairs of Tantita Security uniform (shirts and trousers),
15 Tantita Security T-shirts and
15 black boots.
The Commander, CG’S SIS thanked the NSCDC Commandant General Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, for enabling the Squad to carry out her responsibilities with necessary logistic support which has engendered its remarkable achievements in fighting crimes and criminalities, combating illegal bunkering activities in the Niger Delta, carrying out investigative operations and dislodging criminal minded persons from their hideouts.
He noted that with the ongoing thorough investigation, other suspects would be apprehended in due course and made to face the full wrath of the law.
