Police arrest 10 vandals, recover 800 cans

The Inspector-General of Police Special Taskforce on Pipeline Vandalism, Lagos Zone, has arrested 10 suspected NNPC vandals and recovered 800 (50 liters) jerry cans at Elepete, Arepo in Ogun State.

Mr. Friday Ibadin, Assistant Commissioner of police (ACP) in charge of the taskforce, said this while parading the suspects and items recovered from them at Arepo on Monday, adding that they were arrested on Sunday night.

Ibadin said that his men, led by the Lagos Zonal Commander of the taskforce, DSP Osayande Onaghise, had been on the trail of the suspects for some time, stressing that the arrest was made possible through intelligence reports.

Those arrested were Isaac Abejae, Luke Itowu, Towei Terry, Preciuos Osuwo, Zbatomini Isekpe, Owei Ebiwei, Power Saikemefa, Samon John, Sunday Agbude and Owoduni Ezekiel.

Ibadi said: “We got reports that the gang had been operating on NNPC pipelines in the area for more than three days. The zonal commander and his men set up ambush for them. They were arrested at about 9pm on Sunday. Other members of the gang escaped. We are however on their trail. Items recovered from them include 800 (50 liters) empty jerry cans, which they attempted to use to siphon the products.

“Other items were three bags of detergent, three big boats and items used in breaking pipelines. The suspects confessed to the crime. They claimed they were invited by others, now at large to work for them. Some suspects claimed they were invited to carry the jerry cans with products to designated place for some buyers already waiting to pick up the product, while others claimed that their duty was to load the products into the boats.

“They also said that they were promised various amount of money, depending on their task. They will be charge to court as soon as investigation was concluded.”