The pipeline vandals arrested in Lagos
Security operatives have arrested six citizens of the Republic of
Benin for allegedly siphoning fuel from vandalised pipelines of the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
The suspects identified as Suru Hunpevi, 30; Messel Hungo, 25; Mark
Huntoji, 22; Emmanuel Somoten, 18; Joseph Gbehan, 21 and 29-year-old
Gbenonu Jonas – were rounded up by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps on Sunday on the sea in the Badagry area of Lagos while
they were about to cross the border to their country.
A staggering 13,250 litres of diesel were recovered from the
suspects while a pumping machine and the two speedboats they used for
the operation were also impounded.
According to the Lagos State command of the corps, the Beninoise
suspects had yet to speak up on the alleged crime due to language
barrier.
The NSCDC Commandant in Lagos, Tajudeen Balogun, said the suspects
would be charged to court upon the completion of investigation and urged
criminally minded people to steer clear from pipeline vandalism,
stressing that the command would ensure that the culprits faced the full
weight of the law.
He said, “The arrest we made in Badagry was done on the sea
around Gberefu Island. The six suspected vandals were Beninoise and
wanted to cross the border to the Republic of Benin. Fifty three drums
of petrol with 250 litres in each drum were recovered from them. We also
seized two speedboats and a pumping machine from them. They were
suspected to have siphoned the fuel from vandalised NNPC pipelines.
“The two suspects were arrested on Sunday around Ita Oluwo,
Ikorodu, with a bus filled with fuel-laden 50-litre jerrycans.
Investigation is still ongoing.”
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