The Nation Newspaper

Tag: pipeline vandalisM

  • Beninoise, Ghanaian arrested for pipeline vandalism

    Beninoise, Ghanaian arrested for pipeline vandalism

    Operatives of the Inspector- General of Police (IGP) Special Task Force on Anti-pipeline Vandalism have arrested three Beninoise and a Ghanaian for alleged involvement in vandalising the pipelines of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) located at Akaraba Atlas Cove, Lagos.

    The suspects, Fufo Soglo, a Ghanaian, Christopher Suso, Matilda Idowu and Yovo Itoh, all from the Republic of Benin, were arrested on May 24 following a tip-off. Police sources told The Nation that the suspects and their leader, Mr. Chukwuma, now at large, approached somebody at the pipelines location to help them convince the police officers on duty to allow them operate that night.

    It was learnt that the suspects agreed to give the policemen N520,000 if they allowed them operate.

    We gathered that the informant allegedly played along with the suspects and agreed to bribe the police officers and also asked them to come so that he could introduce them to the policemen.

    The sources said it was when the informant took them to the police with the N520,000 that the suspects were apprehended.

    Confirming the incident, the officer in charge of the IG Special Task Force, Mr. Friday Ibadin, said the suspects were arrested with valves that had 12 holes.

    Said he: “With this kind of technology connection, the vandals can siphon over 50,000 litres in less than 30 minutes.”

    Ibadin said the task force is determined to curb the activities of vandals.

    “We are determined, with the assistance of the residents of the communities where these pipelines are located, to reduce the activities of the vandals. I urge Nigerians to desist from patronising them as anyone caught will be regarded as an accomplice,” he added.

    Ibadin hailed the efforts of the Sector Commander, Lagos, Onaghise Osayandein and those of his men in the fight against vandals.

  • NUPENG tasks FG on pipeline vandalism

    NUPENG tasks FG on pipeline vandalism

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called on the Federal government to fast-track the fight against pipeline vandalism and oil theft.

    The charge is contained in a document signed by NUPENG National President, Mr. Achese Igwe.

    It urged the Federal government to change tactics and strategies in the fight against the menace, and called for the introduction of new technology to secure the pipelines.

    “Government has to change tactics and strategies in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

    “The union wants the Federal Government to introduce new technologies like monitoring sensors and alarm systems that will be trigger off whenever any pipeline is being tampered with,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted NUPENG s as saying in the statement.

    The union decried the drop in crude oil production since the first quarter of the year due to oil theft and activities of vandals.

     

  • Pipeline vandalism: 11 fishermen face trial April 17

    A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed April 17 for the trial of 11 fishermen charged with vandalism of an oil pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Justice Musa Kurya fixed the date on Friday, after the Nigerian Prisons Service failed to produce the accused in court.

    A prison warder told the court that he only realised that the case was due for trial when he arrived in court.

    The accused are Sidi Egbayelo, (29); Sunday Shadrach, (39); Edem Okon, (30); Godwin Kofa, (28); Rosemon Neito, (30); Ejona Kpamkpam, (23) and Moses Victor (28).

    Others are Chris Sunday, (29); Peter Gay, (21); Remo Uchugwu, (23) and Mike Sabato, (29).

    They are in court on a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, vandalism and unlawful possession of petroleum products.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the accused were arraigned on February 7 and had all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Each of them was granted bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties in like sum.

    NAN also reports that the accused are still remanded because they are yet to perfect their bail conditions.

    The prosecutor, Mr. Justin Enang had told the court that the accused were apprehended by a police team on December 21, 2012.

    He said they were apprehended at about 1p.m, at Atlas Cove, Lagos.

     

  • 11 fishermen arraigned over pipeline vandalism

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday remanded 11 fishermen on a four-count charge of conspiracy, theft, unlawful possession of petroleum products and vandalism of pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

    The accused are Sidi Egbayelo, 29; Sunday Shadrach, 39; Edem Okon, 30; Godwin Kofa, 28; Rosemon Neito 30, and Ejona Kpamkpam, 23.

    Others are Moses Victor, 28; Chris Sunday, 29; Peter Gay, 21; Remo Uchugwu, 23, and Mike Sabato 29.

    The accused, who were arraigned by the police denied the charges and pleaded not guilty to the offences.

    The prosecutor, Mr. Justin Enang, told the court that the accused were arrested by a team of policemen on surveillance on December 21 last year at the Atlas Cove, Lagos.

    According to the prosecutor, about 220 drums containing petroleum products valued at N5.335 million were recovered from them.

    He said the alleged offences contravened sections 390 and 516 of the Criminal Code, section 17(a) and ( b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

    Counsel to the accused, Mr. M.C Anthony, prayed the court to grant the accused persons bail on liberal terms as they knew nothing of the alleged offence.

    He said they were ordinary fishermen who were going about their business when they were arrested.

    The prosecutor, however, objected to the bail application moved by the defence counsel and urged the court to remand the accused.

    He said that the offences were about economic sabotage and should not be treated lightly.

    Enang also argued that were the accused to jump bail, it would be difficult to trace them since they had no permanent address.

    After listening to the submissions of both counsel, Justice Musa Kurya ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the case was adjourned to February 11 for further mention.

     

  • Police arrest five for vandalising NNPC pipeline

    … Two Indians included

    The Special Task Force on Pipeline Vandalism said it has arrested two Indians and three others for allegedly vandalizing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation pipeline.

    The Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the task force, Mr. Friday Ibadin, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Ibadin said the police got intelligence report that some vandals were transporting stolen crude oil from Okene to their buyers in Osun State.

    The ACP explained that the Ore Sector Commander, DSP Xpress Omoigui and his men, were sent to the area for regular patrol.

    Ibadin said that during one of the patrol sessions, they trailed some trucks to Prism Steel Company based in Osun.

    He said the suspects were picked up at Osogbo on January 13, shortly after the Indians allegedly took delivery of two truck load of suspected stolen crude oil from NNPC pipeline.

    “The suspects were identified, including those alleged to be their suppliers. We also impounded the two trucks,” he said.

     

  • Six remanded for alleged pipeline vandalism, murder

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday ordered that six accused persons be remanded in prison custody after they were docked on allegations of oil pipeline vandalism and murder.

    The accused are facing a seven-count charge bordering on the offences, in connection with the vandalism of an oil pipeline and the murder of three engineers of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.

    Those charged are Joel Inerepamu (25), Rueben Oluwole (60), John Isaiah (28), Ineye Okposa (40), Timi Gunugunu (22), and Olisa Saheed (25).

    Justice Mohammed Idris ordered their remand, pending trial, following an application made by the prosecutor, Mr. Toyin Ibadin.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that he fixed December 18 for commencement of trial.

    Ibadin had told the court that the accused, on September 5, at about 6p.m., at Arepo, Ogun, conspired to vandalise an NNPC oil pipeline located in the vicinity.

    He alleged that the accused had vandalised the pipeline and scooped out large quantities of petroleum products for illegal sale.

    Ibadin said on sighting engineers assigned to the area from the NNPC, to maintain the pipelines, the accused, who were armed with guns, opened fire.

    He alleged that the engineers were shot dead by the accused.

    According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened sections 3(6), 7(a), 7(b), and 17(a) of the Miscellanous Offence Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    He said the also contravened Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    However, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges

     

  • No pipeline vandalism along NNPC Osisioma depot line- Abia govt.

    No pipeline vandalism along NNPC Osisioma depot line- Abia govt.

    The Abia State government has denied that the recently reopened Osisioma Depot of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company [PPMC] in Aba has been facing series of pipeline vandalism, insisting that the pipeline has been duly monitored by soldiers and other security agencies.

    Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia, the state commissioner for petroleum and natural resources, Don Ubani said the state government will never compromise the safety of the pipeline after working hard to see to the reopening of the depot eight years after being in a comatose situation.

    Ubani said since the depot was reopened, the economic activities around the area has picked up, pointing out that it will help to keep the youths of the state in check and reduce the constant pipeline vandalism being noticed before now.

    The commissioner, who was reacting to a letter allegedly written to the state government by the PPMC over the alleged vandalism along the pipeline leading to the Osisioma depot, said the letter did not emanate from the owners of the depot.

    He appointed fingers at some unscrupulous petroleum marketers who want to create problems that will make the PPMC to stop the supply of the Premium Motor Spirit [PMS]. “They want to create problems so that petrol dealers will come to their farm tanks to buy fuel,” he said.