'I vandalised oil wellheads to protest unemployment'

A 43-year-old, suspected gang leader, Derateide Burutu, arrested for dismantling three wellheads, has blamed his action on the high rate of unemployment in the country.

Burutu, who identified himself as the kingpin of the four-man gang caused a stir on Monday when he and three other accomplices were paraded by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Bayelsa Command. The names of his accomplices were given as Tam Emiakpo, Epumokumo Timidise and Jeremiah Isong.

The unrepentant suspect said he removed the wellheads to protest against the inability of the government to create jobs.

Burutu, who said he did not go to school, further created a scene when he was asked what he intended to do with the wellheads.

He said, “I want to use them for my own personal oil drilling. I was taking them to my destination when the security men arrested me.”

The suspect insisted that there was nothing wrong with what he did and challenged the government to prosecute him.

Burutu, who claimed that it was the first time he had vandalised oil installations, begged the state commandant to grant his three other accomplices freedom and hold only him culpable.

He said, “What I did is right in my sight.  If it is against the Federal Government, then judge me.

“If I may plead, leave these young men and then face me. I have not been doing this before. This is my first time.”

Burutu, who hails from Sagbama area of the state, also criticised politicians for using and dumping the youths.

“Politicians only remember us during elections and forget us after assuming offices,” he said.

On his part, another member of the gang, Timidise, said he joined the gang to raise money for his school fees.

Claiming to be a student of Agriculture and Environmental Administration at the state-owned Niger Delta University, he said he did not know the gang was involved in pipeline vandalism.

He confessed, “I thought the gang was only involved in illegal refining of oil.”

Timidise added that security operatives arrested the gang while on their way back from their illicit activities.

Parading the suspects, the state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, said they were arrested on Monday at 3.30 am by the anti-vandal unit of his command.

He said they were apprehended at Korokorosei and Ondewari communities, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The commandant added that the suspects were arrested following a tip-off from a good citizen.

He said the command had hitherto arrested many people involved in pipeline vandalism, adding that eight persons were undergoing prosecution.

Agu said, “Let me sound it as a note of warning that this sabotage must stop.

“These pipelines when cut spew oil into the environment and destroy farmlands, pollute water and sometimes lead to fire outbreak that can destroy the entire community.”