The 2 Brigade in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has accused politicians of arming criminals.
It said any criminal arrested would be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of 2 Brigade, Capt. Eli Lazarus, spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt.
He said: “Some politicians are arming these groups and encouraging them with inciting comments to breach the public peace. No one should be in doubt of the capacity of the military to deal with such persons. Persons caught breaching public peace, particularly during the elections, will have themselves to blame. Some suspected patrons and sponsors of these criminal groups are closely monitored by security agencies.”
Capt. Lazarus advised parents and guardians to warn their children or wards against any form of association with criminal groups/sponsors.
He added: “In the early hours of Sunday, February 7, 2016, pipeline vandals destroyed a gas facility at Akala Olu village in Oshie community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, thereby disrupting the production activities of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). The vandals threatened to carry out further acts of vandalism, unless their demands are met.
“The vandals are suspected members of Icelander cult group. The group demanded the release of a detained suspect, Emmanuel Odum, undergoing interrogation in connection with pipeline vandalism and cult-related activities.
‘’The 2 Brigade will not be cowed into doing the bidding of any criminal group. For the avoidance of doubt, anyone caught vandalising critical national assets will be severely dealt with, in accordance with the law.”
THE NATIONS NEWS
