A suspected oil thief has reportedly died in the Qua Iboe River, Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, while fleeing from policemen.
It was gathered that the deceased, whose corpse was found three days after the incident, had jumped into the river with other suspects while trying to evade the police.
The police, who were said to have raided the creek a week ago and arrested one of the gang members, were acting on intelligence from members of the community, when they discovered the suspects trying to vandalise a gas pipeline.
In a statement in Uyo over the weekend, a community leader in Ikot Ebidang community in Onna LGA, Rev Rex Akpan Uko, expressed concern over the impact of vandalism in the area.
Uko recalled the disaster at multi-billion naira Ibom Rice Farm caused by vandalizatuion and urged the youth vigilantes in the area to ensure that oil pipelines are secured.
He said but for the timely intervention of the marine police operatives, the area would have been gutted by fire if the vandals had succeeded.
The community leader said a flying boat, oxygen cylinder, iron cutter, hacksaw, life jacket, generator, motorcycle, and helmet, were recovered from the scene, and urged the police to close in on those behind pipeline vandalism in the area.
“The Marine Police operatives stationed at the Marina Beach, Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state have apprehended one Mbet-Obong Robson, a member of a gang of oil pipeline vandals and recovered items such as Flying boat, hacksaw, generator, motorcycle, life jacket, oxygen cylinder, iron cutter, and others.
“These items were used in breaking the pipelines, which almost ignited a fire with thick smoke released into the atmosphere. During the process of raiding by the Police, other members of the gang escaped into the thick swamp, while others jumped into the Qua Iboe River and escaped.
“The matter was, thereafter, reported at the Divisional Police station at Abat, headquarters of Onna. Our concerns and fears are that if a matter of this magnitude is not properly dealt with by the law enforcement agents, their sponsors, who claimed to be the who is who, claiming ownership of the community could bribe the Police to release the principal suspect to continue in the trade, which is economic sabotage to the nation.
“If not for the timely intervention of the Marine Police, a vast area of about 6.5 kilometres would have been gutted by fire with attendant loss of lives, properties, and oil installations.
“The gas pipelines are owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria and was laid across the area by Seven Exploration and Production Company in 2012 to supply gas to the Ibom Power Plant at Ikot Abasi LGA,” the statement added.
