Arepo shoot out: Survivors recount ordeal as police nab 14 suspects, search for missing colleagues

Survivors of Arepo/Abule Oba, Ogun state shootout between suspected vandals and operatives the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit, has given insight into what really transpired on May 25, 2014.

Four of the police survivors identified as Corporal Abu Danmudi, Corporal Usman John, Corporal Rahimi Morufu and Corporal Abdullahi Sabo.

Also was one of the canoe paddlers Ibrahim Oguntade who escaped with bullet wounds.

The suspected vandals had recently stormed the area with about 14 speed boats, loaded with hundreds of heavily armed men in an attempt to forceful engage in oil bunkery.

They were, however, confronted by Anti-pipeline Task Force who engaged them in gun duel.
During the encounter, one of the pipelines belonging to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the area exploded and went up in flames, resulting in a serious inferno which lasted for several days.

Still in high spirit and also amongst the search and rescue team, Corporal Abdullahi Sabo said that they mobilized and rushed to the scene when they heard gun shots at the Elepete camp. “At about 9am on May 25, 2015, we heard gun shots from the camp at the Elepete where two of our men are stationed to guard the area. We immediately mobilized and got a paddler who takes us to the spot as they were so many of them all heavily armed. We never knew that they were so many of them in the bush. We were ambushed and they opened fire on us. It was in the process that our boat capsized. I was very lucky to have swum out to safety in the raging fire.”

Another survivor, Corporal Rahimi Morufu, described it as a war zone, adding, “We were out numbered. We never knew that they were so many of them. We were desperate to save our colleague when they opened fire at us. They were so many of them, heavily armed and shooting sporadically. The area is so swampy that it took the divine intervention to get out of that water alive.”

Another canoe paddlers said that as soon as they heard the gun shots, he and other paddlers who worked with the police decided to move to the spot.

“They were so many of them dressed in military camouflage, chanting war songs. It was like a war zone, I was lucky because I’m experience in swimming inside swampy waters. It’s possible that they killed those policemen and went away with their guns.”

Meanwhile police and other search and rescue teams have intensified efforts combing the island in search of their missing colleagues. The operatives have arrested about seven suspected vandals while the Joint security Task Force (JTF) in Ondo State and Galaxy security also apprehended seven suspected vandals who were alleged to have participated in the shootout.

The suspects were picked up at different locations in Lagos, Ogun and Ondo States.  

The arrest of the suspects came after a tip-off.

The residents who were mostly suspected vandals fled the camp when they realized that area could be raided. Arms and ammunitions were seen scattered in palm frond huts in the area. Also spotted were boats soaked with blood, phones, and military camouflage uniforms.

Shop filled with all kinds drugs believed to be the clinic use to treat the wounded were also discovered. They also searched for shallow graves in case the missing policemen could have been buried.

Shortly after the search and rescue team emerged from the creeks, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, Mamman Tsafe, visited the scene for an on the spot assessment of the situation. 

He encouraged the men on ground not to be discouraged by the incident.

His words: “The war against pipeline vandalism is for the good of the country. I encouraged you to be strong and do not relent in your duties because of the outcome of the shoot out between vandals and policemen. The police will intensify efforts to find the missing policemen and the perpetrators.”

Also on the spot was the, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Friday Ibadin, in charge of the Task Force who briefed the AIG on the efforts on ground to find the missing policemen and the suspected vandals who are currently on the run.

“We are doing everything to ensure that these gallant officers who are still missing are found and their guns recovered.”