A group of armed youths from Ikienghenbiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have been arrested for allegedly vandalising a major oil pipeline with dynamites.

Reports say the group vandalised the pipeline along the Azuzuama – Ikienghenbiri axis of the trunk line conveying crude oil from the Nigerian Agip Oil Company flow station at Tebidaba to Brass.

A statement issued on Sunday in Yenagoa by the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite, said the pipeline vandals were apprehended by youths of Azuzuama community, who got wind of the planned action.

They were arrested with the support of operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and one of them was shot in the leg while trying to escape, the statement said.

Obuebite expressed delight that the arrests were coming on the heels of Governor Seriake Dickson’s meeting with Traditional Rulers and Chairmen of Community Development Communities (CDC) where the Governor directly placed the responsibility of maintaining peace and safeguarding oil facilities in their domains on their shoulders.

The commissioner praised the youths of Azuzuama Community “for their gallantry, patriotic disposition and commitment to the peace and economic well being of the state and Nigeria as a whole.”

According to him, Dickson would “invite them and reward them for responding positively to his clarion call when it mattered most.”

Obuebite also called on other communities to emulate the Azuzuama community, adding: “If every other communities can act in like manner, the current wave of attacks on national assets and related criminal acts will be drastically minimised, if not completely eliminated.”

He reassured community leaders and youths of government’s preparedness to continue to support and partner with them in the protection of lives and property.

•Photo shows the suspected pipeline vandals.