The Akwa Ibom Police Command has arrested three suspected pipeline vandals in Eket Local Government Area of the state. The suspects, Nelson Semiyefa from Bayelsa; Victor William and Nseobong Dickson, both from Akwa Ibom, however, denied being vandals and criminals while speaking with newsmen.
Briefing newsmen on the arrest, the State Police Commissioner, Murtala Mani, said that the suspects were found with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) capable of destroying high pressure oil pipelines.
Mani, who was represented by the Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Cordelia Nwawe, also disclosed that the suspects were arrested in a hotel in Ikot Udoma village in Eket council area. He said that the IEDs comprised two high power pipe bombs measured at 60/8.5cm and 44/5.5 cm, respectively.
He said that the third IED was one long single high power propel launcher bomb measured at 78/4.5cm capable of destroying high pressure oil and gas pipeline facility and human beings.
Mani said that other items recovered from the suspects included a battery for igniting explosion, a bottle wrapped with red clothes, native eggs and feathers suspected to be charm. The commissioner called on the people to be alert and to report to the police any suspicious persons in the community.