The Nigerian Navy has arrested two prominent members of a militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers in Warri, Delta State.
Parading the suspects before newsmen on Saturday, the Commander, NNS Delta, Warri Naval Base, Commodore Joseph Dzunye, said the suspects were apprehended last Thursday around Sapele area in Warri North Local Government Area of the state.
Dzunye said, the NDA members identified as Felix Miyenminiya, 53 and Stanley Jongha, 35, were the brains behind series of attacks on Chevron facilities between May and July this year.
“Besides, the hoodlums are also involved in pipeline vandalism and sea robbery. However, nemesis caught up with them when a team of Nigerian Navy, sister services and security agencies under operation Delta swooped on the criminals.
“Besides, it is worthy to note that the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies have been doing their best to curtail attacks on oil facilities as well as reducing, to the barest minimum, act of criminalities in the Niger Delta Area”, he said.
Dzunye warned that the Nigerian Navy would not fold its hands and watch the unscrupulous elements destroying the nation’s economy.
“Let me also assure members of the public that the Nigerian Navy is poised to curbing criminal activities in the nation’s maritime environment. Above all, we will continue to maintain the Chief of Naval Staff’s zero tolerance for oil theft and to also provide safe atmosphere for legitimate business to thrive,” the base commander said.
One of the suspects, Felix Miyenminiya, denied knowledge of the allegation but his accomplice, Stanley Tongha, insisted that Felix, who is his uncle, was neck deep in the illegal business.
“My Uncle (Felix) always send us to the river with dynamite and bomb to do the damage to oil facilities and perpetrate other nefarious act”, Tonhga insisted.
