Army detains Okowa's Aide over NPDC Pipeline Explosion

Reports said men of the 222nd Battalion in Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State had on Thursday arrested Special Assistant on Youth and Community Development to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Monday Owhesiri, for allegedly masterminding the explosion of oil pipelines belonging to the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, at Ighwrenene community earlier this week.


Bloom Gist's Uche Mordi reporting from Asaba said the Okowa aide was arrested in the company of three girls at his hotel room along the Ughelli-Patani road.

An official of the battalion disclosed to Bloom Gist that the governor's aide was arrested following a tip off by two other members of his gang that were earlier arrested in connection to the explosion.

Confirming the news to Bloom Gist, Army sources said since the arrest was made, Governor Okowa has continued to mount pressure on the army to let go of his aide and the two other persons arrested.

Uche said that following Okowa's pressure, an earlier press briefing on the arrest to be delivered by the Commanding Officer of the 222nd Battalion, Lt. Col Mathew Oyekola, was abruptly called off.

An explanation was made that the investigation is still ongoing, and therefore the press would not be briefed.

All efforts failed to reach Mr. Owhesiri, who also doubled as the state chairman of vigilantes, while Lt. Col. Oyekola declined to comment, saying an Army spokesman will soon speak on the issue.