The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 17 individuals suspected of being involved in the killing of one of its officers during a recent operation in the Niger Delta.
The arrests were made following a coordinated intelligence-based operation led by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’S SIS), in collaboration with other security agencies.
A statement from NSCDC spokesman Afolabi Babawale revealed that the suspects were allegedly involved in a renewed wave of attacks on oil and gas installations in the region. The violence led to the death of Assistant Superintendent Umar Aliyu, who was killed during an attack on a joint base of the NSCDC and Tantita Security Services in Ekeremo Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. The attack also resulted in the theft of a speedboat belonging to Tantita Security Services.
According to Commandant Apollo Dandaura, the operation to arrest the suspects was based on credible intelligence and was carried out with the assistance of Tantita Security Services and other law enforcement agencies. The operation took place on March 6, 2025, in Tonogbe, Ekeremo LGA, Bayelsa State.
The attack occurred earlier in the year, on January 21, 2025, when a group of heavily armed sea pirates and vandals launched a violent assault on the base, shooting at officers and civilians. In the ensuing chaos, ASC Umar Aliyu was killed, his official AK-47 rifle was stolen, and several other personnel, including Ebikame Seimeneyefa of Tantita Security, were injured. A Tantita speedboat was also hijacked during the attack.
The investigation revealed that the arrested suspects were part of a high-profile syndicate led by notorious criminal Ziakede Amatu, a resident of Norgbene, Bayelsa State. Amatu and his gang have been terrorizing communities in the Niger Delta, involved in illegal refining activities, kidnapping, and armed robbery. The suspects also confessed to being behind a failed attack on the residence of the Honorable Minister of Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, in January 2025.
Amatu’s criminal activities included illegally refining petroleum products in Abonima, Rivers State, where he and his gang stored weapons for protection. After the operation, Amatu migrated to Bayelsa, where he sought to infiltrate Tantita Security Services, only to later don their uniforms to disguise himself during attacks on oil installations.
The suspects’ further confessions revealed that they had sought to discredit Tantita Security Services’ efforts in the region by launching violent attacks, including the one on NSCDC and Tantita operatives. The group’s intention was to sabotage the security efforts of the organization and disrupt oil installations.
Recovered items during the operation included one AK-47 rifle, two empty AK-47 magazines, charms, 15 sets of Tantita Security uniforms (shirts, trousers, t-shirts), and 15 pairs of black boots.
The Commander of CG’S SIS, Dandaura, expressed gratitude to NSCDC Commandant General Dr. Ahmed Audi for providing the logistical support necessary for the squad’s success. He reassured the public that the ongoing investigation would lead to the arrest of more suspects involved in the criminal activities in the region, with all perpetrators facing the full consequences of the law.
