Suspected pipeline vandals on Wednesday killed nine security personnel at Arepo, Ogun State.
Details later…
Tag: Pipeline vandals
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My husband is alive, insists wife of policeman reportedly killed by pipeline vandals
AS the search for the corpse of the policemen allegedly killed by pipeline vandals in Ikorordu, Lagos, continues, the wife of one of the missing men, Mrs. Fatima Yakubu, insists that her husband, Inspector Yerima Yakubu, is alive and would return soon.
Some Ijaw youths, suspected to be pipeline vandals, were said to have opened fire on some policemen on Ishawo Road, Ikorodu, Lagos State, on August 3, killing four of them.
The deceased policemen were identified as Inspector Yerima Yakubu, Corporal Adakuro Peredigha, Sgt Obi Chukwudi and Sergeant Okoh Endurance.
It was gathered that three of the deceased policemen were attached to the Owutu Police Division, while the remaining one was from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command.
Residents said the Ijaw youths took away the corpses of three of their victims.
Our correspondent, who visited Inspector Yakubu’s house at the Police Barracks in Ikeja, saw sympathisers trooping in. Fatimah and Inspector Yakubu (49), who hails from Ebiewakpi in Auchi area of Edo State, are blessed with five children.
Fatimah, who was seated in the living room, tried not to break down in tears as she kept saying that her husband was alive.
She said: “I know that my husband is still alive because he has not appeared to me. Let us go and beg the militants to release him to me and my children. I only shed tears of joy because I know that he is alive and would return to me.”
According to her, the police authorities were yet to inform her about her husband’s death, adding that she only learnt of the incident on the pages of newspapers.
“The last time I saw my husband was Sunday, August 30, 2015, before he left for work at about 5 pm. The next day, we were expecting him to return around 10 am as usual, but he never came back.
“I called his numbers but none of them was going through. I then called his friend who assured me that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, was in town and that they were in Obalende providing security for him.
“I know what his job entails, so I was not bothered, although I found it strange that he never called us to explain why he did not come back. I assumed that his phones could be bad.”
The picture of her husband’s whereabouts became clearer when a neighbour came to their house with a copy of a newspaper report on her husband’s death, consoling her over what had happened to her husband.
She said: “It was the next day that I received calls from people in the village, asking how I was doing. Relatives who had never called the family for years called to ask how I and the kids were doing. It was then that I knew that something was wrong.
“Later in the day, our neighbours, family and some of his colleagues started trooping into the house with the newspaper report that three policemen were killed in Ikorodu and my husband was one of them.
“I refused to believe it and I thank God that the next day, the DPO called and said that I should not worry, that my husband is still alive. He assured me that they were looking for him.
“I know he will be found. All I am asking is that they (vandals) should please return him to me. If it is possible, I am ready to go to the creeks and beg that my husband’s life be spared.
“My husband is the greatest man to me and our five kids. I refuse to believe that he was killed. I know that he is alive and would return to me one day.
“Please, stop crying over a man who is still alive.”
Inspector Yakubu’s eldest child, Rukayat, also shared her mother’s belief that their father will return. Rukayat, who is expected to resume at the University of Benin where she intends to study Accounting, wondered why sympathisers would conclude that their father was late.
She said: “He cannot just disappear like that. My dad is very much aware that school will resume soon. His life dream for me is to become an accountant and I had reassured him in the last two weeks that I will become the Accountant General of the Federation in the future.
“He cannot just leave us like that. I assure you, he will return to us.”
Describing his father as a unique policeman, Rukayat said his father was gentle and can never take the law into his hands.
“You will not understand how special he is. That is why all of us (children) are more attached to him than our mother.
“He will return. I know that he will return,” Rukayat said with confidence.
Also sighted in the house was little Shafili, who was yet to understand why so many people were visiting their home to console her mother.
Battling with the piece of meat that had been handed over to her, Shafili reminded her mother that she needed to allow her to go and play with her friends.
“Let me go and play. I don’t know why you are forcing me to sit down with you. I will report you to my daddy when he returns,” she screamed at her mother, who was trying to force her to hang around them in the living room.
Amongst the early callers were Afemai Youth Club of Nigeria, Iluoreh Age Group and Agbaegbeobo Women and sons and daughters of South Obie Iyakpi, West of Edo State, resident in Lagos State.
During a joint meeting on the issue, they all assured his wife that they would do everything within their power to reach out to the militants for possible release of their loved one.
The President of Afemai Youth Club, Barrister Tony Dania, pleaded with the vandals to release their brother as he is not only a father but a living example for his immediate community.
“He is such a peace-loving person that most of the time, we wonder if he is actually a policeman. He is a simple, humble man who does not oppress people because of his job. He is a peace-loving person and will be greatly missed if he does not return alive.
“We are calling on the police authorities to assist us in ensuring his safe return.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has assured that they have intensified effort to guarantee the safe return of the missing policemen.
A source said that two of the vandals who were involved in the disappearance of the policemen had been arrested and were cooling their heels in the cell of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command while the search for them continues.
The new Public Relations officer of the Lagos State Police Command, DSP Joe Offor, could not be reached for comment as arrangement was being concluded for his takeover from the former PPRO, DSP Patricia Amadin.
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Suspected pipeline vandals nabbed in Delta
The Ughelli Pipeline Surveillance Vigilante team in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State have arrested three suspected vandals in connection with oil pipeline explosion at Ighwrenene community.
The ring leader is still at large. A source, who spoke with our reporter on the ground of anonymity, said after the arrest of the suspects, they were handed over to the Joint Task Force, JTF, 222 Battalion, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli.
The source added that one of the suspects confessed to the crime and gave useful information.
It was gathered that the suspects were apprehended at Affiesere community in the early hours of last Thursday by after an ambush was laid for them.
All efforts made to get the reaction of the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion, Agbarha-Otor, Lt. Col. Mathew Oyekola failed.
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Youths arrest ‘pipeline vandals’
Two suspected pipeline vandals were arrested yesterday by youths of Odimodi Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
The suspects were reportedly picked up near Isiayegbene, a fishing settlement by River Forcados. They were handed over to the leader of naval officers attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) at the Forcados Terminal of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
The Base Information Officer at NNS Delta, Warri Naval Base, Commodore Tope Ogunaike, confirmed the report.
He said investigation was ongoing on the matter.
Ogunwale said the Commanding Officer would speak today on the arrest.
A community leader, who spoke in confidence, said: “Prior to the arrest of the youths, SPDC official informed the community that there is a drop in the pressure of crude oil in some of their facilities. This usually means that illegal bunkering gangs or vandals are at work.
“When the report got to the community, members of the Odimodi Surveillance were mobilised and asked to comb the creeks and rivers for unusual activities and report back to the community.
“In the course of their patrol, the surveillance boys accosted a group of boys near Isiayegbene. When they were asked about their mission, they could not give a cogent reason; instead, they tried to fight their way out.”
It was learnt that two suspects were overpowered, captured and taken to the town while a third accomplice reportedly escaped.
“The two boys, along with the two wives of the escaped member of the team, were handed over to men of the Nigerian Navy attached to the JTF at Forcados terminal,” the source added.
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Two pipeline vandals arrested in Ogun
Two suspected vandals were on Monday arrested at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipeline installation in Mosinmi, Sagamu, Ogun State.
The vandals, according to the spokesman of one of the security outfits – New Age Security Limited, Mr. Lateef Lawal, were arrested at one of the many points where the company is carrying out surveillance activities.
He said suspects have already loaded seven 50 litres plastic kegs, containing scooped fuel, into a Nissan cab with registration number KNN368XA, before they were arrested.
According to Lawal, the suspects were already escaping with their loot when they were accosted by security men from the New Age Security outfit at about 5.00pm.
The suspects, the cab used for the illegal operation and the kegs of looted fuel were later handed over to the Chief Security Officer of NNPC at Mosinmi.
They were later transferred to the Sagamu Police Station for further interrogation after which they would be transferred to Ogun State Police Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta.
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Court remands suspected pipeline vandals
Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday remanded in Ikoyi Prisons four men charged with vandalism and unlawful dealing in petroleum products.
The accused are: Andrew Ishola, 35; Sunkanmi Aro, 27; Utuedor Michael, 27, and Oladele Agbo, 35.
The quartet, who are standing trial on a three-count charge, pleaded not guilty.
Following an application by their counsel, Mr McAnthony Akhariale, Yunusa granted them N1 million bail each, with two sureties in the like sum.
He ordered them remanded in prison pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
He adjourned the case till January 19.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Raymond Akhane, told the court that the accused conspired to vandalise an oil pipeline and illegally deal in petroleum products.
He said they were arrested by policemen in the Majidun area of Ikorodu, Lagos, following a tip-off.
According to the prosecutor, the accused tampered with the free flow of the refined petroleum products through an oil pipeline in the locality and sold the products illegally.
Ahkane said the offence contravened Sections 3(1), 5 and 7 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004. (NAN).
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Civil defence parades six suspected pipeline vandals
The Abia State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has paraded six men suspected to be oil pipeline vandals.
The suspects were caught digging a hole to set their valve on the pipeline to steal oil.
The NSCDC Commandant, Andy Dateer, said in Umuahia, Abia State capital that his men were determined to rid the state of vandals.
He said his men arrested the men while digging a hole to mount their valve on the pipeline to siphon petroleum products.
The NSCDC boss said two of the suspects, Stephen Onwueje and Chisom Maduabuchi, claimed they were workers of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) working with the surveillance team.
Dateer said he wondered what the two men were doing at midnight in the heavy rain, wearing boxers and holding rods, cutlasses, screw drivers, hand drill, among others; digging around a pipeline.
He named the other suspects as Echefula Omeihi, 30, a farmer, who hails from Ekeakpara village in Osisioma Local Government and Chidiadi Sunday, 28, of Ugbo’s compound, Umuagbai in Umuele Osisioma Local Government.
The rest are Ahamefula Emmanuel, 31, a driver from Akpunaekpu village in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government and Nkemjika Egbufor, 30, from Ekeakpara village in Osisioma Council.
The NSCDC commandant said other items recovered included two motorcycles, hammers, rain boots, one big valve, touch light and rods.
He said his command was determined to rid the state of pipeline vandals.
Dateer thanked Governor Theodore Orji for his support and the security agencies for their co-operation.
He said the suspects would soon be arraigned.
The NSCDC boss enjoined the public to be vigilant.
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Court denies alleged police killers, pipeline vandals bail
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday dismissed the bail applications filed by 20 persons who were accused of killing nine policemen and vandalising pipeline at Arepo, Ogun State, on May 24.
Justice Okon Abang said the severity of the offence means they cannot be granted bail.
“On account of the severity of punishment, if found guilty, it is my view that it is not safe to admit the accused persons to bail.
“I have my doubt that if granted bail, the accused persons would appear in court and attend trial notwithstanding their innocence until proven guilty.
“I am not inclined to exercise my discretion in their favour by admitting them to bail,” the judge held.
Justice Abang added that although the accused persons were regarded as innocent until proven guilty, the court could not take a decision that would negatively affect trial.
The 20 accused persons were arraigned on August 7 on 14-count charges bordering on conspiracy, pipeline vandalism, oil theft and unlawful killings.
They pleaded not guilty to the offences.
They are – Felix Yayu, Ijoufaya, Yakubu Ebiwei, Augustine Ebiwei, Tamara Dembofa, Owei Atile, Agbara Tiewei, Rufus Godwin, Tiery Koiyetin and Ebis Sobijoh.
Others are – Ibori Lawrence, Eberebu Ibori, Atinuke Odewale, Fatai Ishola, Ahmed Bashorun, Odewale Waheed, Susan Viana, Tuesday Filatei, Yeiyah Yellow and Ismail Abdullahi.
The police alleged that they were behind the May 24 illegal oil bunkering operation at Arepo that led to the killing of the nine police officers.
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Civil Defence arrests teenager, 29 ‘pipeline vandals’
In a bid to sustain the war against oil thieves and pipeline vandals, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), last Saturday arrested 30 people for alleged pipeline vandalism including two teenagers.
Azeez Ajani, 12 and Michael Oyedotun 13 were nabbed alongside six women and a pastor, Nikuleyi Adesola.
The suspects were picked at Isheri Olofin, Ogun State by officials of the Lagos and Ogun commands of NSCDC.
The suspects all denied the allegations, saying they were not pipeline vandals.
The Ogun State NSCDC boss, Akinwande Aboluwoye, said the suspected vandals were nabbed with 400 jerry cans of fuel containing 50 litres of fuel and their canoes were also apprehended.
Aboluwoye said the canoes were set ablaze while security was beefed up in the area, adding: “The vandals engaged us in a gun duel and when the heat became too much, they abandoned the products, jumped into the water and escaped. However, we apprehended their cohorts who actually live in the area.”
The commandant said the suspects would be charged to court this week. He said past investigations proved that women and children were also involved in the illegitimate business.
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16 ‘pipeline vandals’ arrested in Imo
In what appears to be a major breakthrough in its fight against crime, the police in Imo State yesterday paraded 16 suspected oil pipeline vandals, three NITEL equipment vandals and six suspected cultists.
Parading the suspects, police spokesperson Mrs. Joy Elemoko said the suspected vandals of the NITEL optic cables, Emmanuel Aniche, Ike Odogwu and Samuel Ukachukwu, all from Oguta Local Government Area were arrested on August 17 at the Enyis/Trinity Junction Road, Oguta.
Recovered from them were a Mercedes Benz truck loaded with optic cables worth about N10million and a Toyota car.
The 16 suspected pipeline vandals were arrested on August 8 by soldiers, who were deployed in Agip Flow Station at Ikiri.
She gave their names as Orji Best from Umueze Anam in Anambra Local Government Area of Anambra State; “gang leader” Ugochukwu Onuigbo, Emeka Ezuonyekwueje and Chukwuemeka Udeh. Others are Josiah Samuel, Akachukwu Onyebuchi.
Recovered from the gang were “vandalised pipes, a Mack Truck with registration number XH 539 AAA, L300 bus and a trailer load of 40ft 8inch diameter pipes, valued at N5million.”
The command’s Ambush Squad also arrested some suspected cultists.
They are Nnaemeka Iweanogo of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu, Armstrong Mazi of the Benue State University Makurdi, Obinna Dick of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri.
Others are Ifeanyi John also of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Uzoma Ike and Nwadike Uzoma .
Mrs. Elemoko alleged that the suspects “were involved in the killing of Mbachu Samuel Chigozie, a corps member serving in Cross River State.”
Also paraded was Chinedu Atufule, who was found with three electronic fuel dispensers.
Onuigbo admitted to the crime. The suspected optic cable wvandals said they were hired in Onitsha to transport some items to Oguta and were arrested by the police on their way.