The Department of States Service, DSS, has announced the arrest of a member of the Niger Delta Avengers militant group.
The DSS disclosed the arrest of one Selky Torughedi said to be an associate of Tompolo and also a suspected member of the militant group responsible for the continuous attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta region.
According to the DSS, Torughedi was arrested in connection with an exposed plan to assassinate a serving military officer in Kaduna state.
In a statement issued by the spokesperson of the DSS, Tony Opuiyo, the DSS said: “In a bid to stem the activities of vandals in the Niger Delta, this service effected the arrest of Selky Kile Torughedi, on 17th June, 2016, in Calabar, Cross River state.
“Torughedi is an ex-militant and suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), and was arrested for planning to assassinate one MB Yahaya, a serving military officer.
“Torughedi, who is a close associate of Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), had already conducted surveillance at the residence of Yahaya in Kaduna, preparatory to his plot when he was intercepted. He was also fingered as a sponsor of pipeline vandalism in some states in the south-south region. Suspect is currently assisting the service, with critical leads.”
The secret service further disclosed the arrest of another suspected member of the Niger Delta militant identified as Christian Oluba known as Sensor.
“Sensor was arrested while perfecting plans to carry out explosive attacks on critical oil and gas pipelines, including critical storage points.”
It further stated: “Meanwhile, sequel to increasing threat posed to public peace by the activities of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), this Service arrested one Chidiebere Onwudiwe, a graduate of Mechanical and chemica engineering and known member of IPOB, on 22nd June, 2016.
“Onwudiwe and his associates within and outside the country were planning to carry out coordinated attacks against religious bodies/ edifices, police-check points and the computer village in Ikeja, Lagos state, with Improvised Explosive devices (IEDS). The suspect was apprehended while making
logistics supplies for their nefarious plan.”