Recovers over 1000 kegs
OPERATIVES of the 81 Division, Nigerian Army have arrested eight suspected pipeline vandals at Imoro Creek, Ikorodu.
The suspects, Muftau Saliu, Segun Oladipupo, Akeem Adeniyi, Bukola Adepoju, Wasiu Jamiu, Abiodun Akindode, Azeez Ibrahim, and Matthew Oboregbeyen, who were arrested on April 17, were paraded yesterday by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udo.
According to Udo, the army discovered sabotage points along the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline including a loading area in the creek where products were siphoned.
He said the army recovered 10 vehicles, comprising seven saloon cars, two wagons and a J5 bus, 31 jerry cans laden with refined petroleum products, 1,397 empty kegs, three coolers, nine mobile phones and substances suspected to be hard drugs.
Of the 1,397 kegs, Udo said 1,320 were discovered separately and destroyed during the raid.
The army also raided vandals’ haven at Ilara and Imagbon areas of Ikorodu, where a wooden boat, 40 empty 50 litre jerry cans and 1000metre-long laid hose, used for siphoning petrol were destroyed.
“The suspected vandals are undergoing preliminary investigation after which they will be handed over to the appropriate security agency for further action,” said Udo, who was represented by the Commander, 9 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Moundhey Ali.
However, the suspects denied being vandals, with most of them insisting they were innocent.
Oboregbeyen said he stopped the business three years ago when a crisis broke out in the creek, insisting he had since started a legitimate livelihood.
He accused a Baale of masterminding his arrest, adding that the Baale had threatened him a few days before soldiers came to pick him up.
Oboregbeyen said: “To be honest, I was into the fuel business but I stopped three years ago. I was doing it with the Baale. When I stopped, I started riding motorcycle and also doing bricklaying job. What happened was that the Baale went and sold a portion of my land and I challenged him for that.
“Then, I had issues with my wife and he wanted to meddle but I told him to mind his business. He then told me that he is going to put me where I will not return. Then, two days after, soldiers came and arrested me. They went to my house, searched it but they did not find any fuel or anything. They asked me where I kept fuel; I told them I do not know what they were talking about. That was how I was brought here.”
Saliu said he was arrested after soldiers saw fuel in his vehicle, adding that he usually bought 50 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from vandals at N4,500.
Akeem claimed they apprehended him because his vehicle reeked of PMS, insisting that he had no business with pipeline vandals and was just a commercial taxi driver.
Meanwhile, in the early hours of yesterday, the inhabitants of Peace Estate at Ipaja, Lagos, woke up to see their neighbourhood covered in smoke as a fuel pipelines in area were engulfed with fire.
Less than three months ago, the same pipelines were engulfed by fire allegedly caused by vandals. The residents are also accusing vandals of being behind the fire.
According to one eyewitness, the fire started around four in the morning and it was under control when our reporter visited the scene. Two Lagos State firefighter vans were seen at there though there was nothing they could do about the fire. Also at the scene were some policemen who were trying to control the observers.
One of the residents, who gave his name as Kunle, is pleading with the government to secure the pipeline as they no longer feel safe in the area. “This might occur again and could be worse if nothing is done about it. Our houses are close to the pipeline and it is not less than three months this happened. After the first incident nothing was done and I’m sure nothing will be done about it. The government should look into it and do something about it.
“We are relocating from this place once our house rent expires,” said Shade who was still in fear, “if you check my blood pressure you would see that it has gone up. This place needs to be secured. Maybe one day the whole place will be engulfed by fire and I don’t want family to be victim.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reported that 50 suspected cultists were arrested by the army after intensive surveillance and intelligence.
Gen Udo said the suspected cultists are members of ‘Eiye’ confraternity. He added that they were conducting physical training for new recruits, initiation and planning for robbery and kidnap activities when soldiers swooped on them.
“Their arrest was preceded by a shootout between the troops of 174 Battalion Ikorodu and the cultists after which, 23 of the suspected cultists were arrested while others escaped,” he said.
The GOC said that two of the suspects sustained gunshot wounds, adding that one of the suspected newly-recruited cultists died as a result of injuries inflicted on him during the cult initiation.
“However, one of our gallant soldiers, while combating the cultists sustained a gunshot wound on his left leg during the encounter and was immediately evacuated.
“The soldier and the two wounded cultists are receiving treatment at the Battalion’s Medical Reception Station.”
Recovered from the suspects are one locally-made double barrel pistol, five live cartridges, five machetes, four jack knives, two table knives, three locally-fabricated axes with nail like edges and five mobile phones.
A parcel of Indian hemp, two ATM cards, eight identity cards, nine passport photographs, packets of condom, rings and a variety of charms were similarly seized from them.
He said operations to rid Ilara and Imagbon areas of Ikorodu of pipeline vandals sparked a shooting by suspected vandals.
“The suspected vandals, armed with AK-47 rifles, fired sporadically and fled on sighting the troops,” he said.
“During the operation, sabotaged portions of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines were observed in Imoro Creek in Imagbon.
“Items recovered from them include one wooden boat, 40 empty jerry cans each weighing 50 litres and a 1,000-metre-long hose, ostensibly used in siphoning products by the suspected vandals.
“The recovered items were destroyed and no arrest was made.”
The GOC also said that seven impersonators were arrested alongside eight suspected vandals on April 17 in Lagos and Ogun states.
“While on anti-bunkering patrol along Imoro Creek in Ikorodu, troops discovered sabotaged points along the NNPC Pipeline including a loading area in the Creek for siphoned products where eight suspected vandals were arrested.
“Items recovered from them include 10 Vehicles, 31 Jerry cans loaded with refined products, 77 empty Jerry cans, three coolers, nine mobile phones and substances suspected to be hard drugs.
“Another set of 1,320 empty Jerry cans were also discovered and destroyed. In addition, seven suspected impostors were arrested by troops while on operation CHECKMATE,’’ he said.