NO fewer than six chiefs have been arrested by soldiers on allegation of being involved in the bombing of facility, Forcados 48 Export Line, belonging to Shell Nigeria Petroleum Company.
Among the chiefs who were arrested Sunday morning at Ogulagha, an Ijaw kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, were Chairman of Ogulagha community, Chief Peter Tuasinde; Captain Prebor Solomon and Public Relations Officer of the community, Henry Agedigba, S. J. Abed, Mr. John Borme; a businessman, Mr. Clement Ibada, and Ejor Burutu.
It was gathered that the soldiers had first arrested Burutu who was said to have showed them the houses belonging to all others. The soldiers were said to have invaded the community as early as 8 .21 am.
ALSO SEE: Nigeria loses 400,000 barrels per day as Shell suspends Forcadors repairs
However, the Niger Delta Avengers had claimed that it was responsible for the attack on the Shell facility… the Forcados 48″ export line, explaining that the oil company refused to obey its warning against repairing its facility.
In reaction to the arrest, the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, DoubraOkotete condemned the arrest of the community leaders, describing the action as “harassment, intimidation” of innocent people.
Okotete said that as far as he is concerned, the community were not Niger Delta Avengers.