* impound 2 vessels, 20 trucks
The Anti-Pipeline Vandalism of the Nigeria Police Force and
some key players’ in the petroleum sector have arrested 18 suspects and
impounded two vessels and 20 trucks filled with stolen petroleum products.
The operations were carried out
across Lagos, Kogi, and Abia states.
The Force Spokesman, Don Awunah, said that the suspects were
arrested in coordinated operations based on credible intelligence.
Awunah said that the suspects and trucks were arrested and
impounded in different locations within the country. Awunah said that the
police arrested Ellen and MB Opuda vessels, 10 crew members and 18 tanker
trucks loaded with illegally refined ago diesel through illegal bunkering and
vandalism of NNPC products.
The first 10 suspects, have been identified as Tumbiri
Ezekiel, captain, Thomas Arimoro Azamosa, Company’s Representative, Godwil
Offeh, Chief mate, Alfred Iwanefun, Engineer, Emmanuel Uyoi,
Deckhand, Godwin Tabiti, Electrician, Omokete Enengite, Engineer
Cadet, Victor Onyenike, Seaman,
Suleiman Ahmadu and William Okitikpo.
Awunah said that on November 1, 2016, at about 2:20am, a sustained surveillance and
monitoring of Ellen vessel and crew members, sailing from Rivers, Bayelsa and
Delta states water ways to Lagos State with illegally refined AGO (Diesel) on
board, were swooped upon by the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP), Task Force
on illegal petroleum bunkering.
He further said: “Thus on November 3, 2016, at about 8:30am,
the Task Force trailed and intercepted Ellen Vessel at Satomen’s Jetty, located
at Amuwo Odofin in Mile 2 area of Lagos State, where it had discharged the
illegal refined AGO, diesel into 18 trucks, 33,000 liters each. The vessel,
crew members, the eighteen trucks and other suspects were promptly arrested.”
Similarly, another vessel, branded MB OPUDA SHIP was also
intercepted and arrested at the same Satomen’s Jetty after discharging
suspected illegally refined diesel.
He disclosed that there was another arrest of suspected
vandals and recovery of two tanker trucks loaded with 20,000 litres of
illegally refined ago (diesel) each. The trucks are marked RGG 76 XA and YKS
108 XA.
The suspects are Harrison Chinedu, 40, Mohammed Abdulkadir
21, Idris Bawa, 28, Emmanuel Akighir, 39 and Suleiman Musa, 22.
The image maker recounted: “On October 28, 2016 at about 4pm,
operatives of the IGP’s Task Force on a tip off, stormed an illegal local
refinery located at Adogu village of Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi
State, where two trucks were intercepted loaded with illegal AGO products
20,000 liters each. The five suspects, during interrogation admitted to the
various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime.”
There was also the foiling of vandalism of oil pipeline, recovery
of a truck loaded with 20,000 liters of ago (diesel) and operational vehicle of
the suspects.
Exhibits recovered from them are one white Scania lorry with
registration number RBC 552 ZS, one Toyota PERVIA Bus with registration number
EKY 659 BJ, four pumping machines, one big blue motor jack, two motor
batteries, four shovels, one filling machine, one pumping hose and two tarpaulins.
Awunah also said: “On October 13, 2016, at about 12noon,
intelligence gathered revealed that vandalism of NNPC pipeline was ongoing at
Monkey’s village, Okpella area of Edo State. The Task Force swiftly moved in.
On sighting the Police team, the vandals took to their heels and abandoned a
lorry and some tools used for vandalism.”
Similarly, some vandals were arrested in Abia and Kaduna
states. The police recovered trucks loaded with illegally refined diesel.
The suspects are Amechi Aduma, 47, owner of the illegally
refined product. He was arrested in Abia.
There is also Ezechi Peter, 17, who was arrested at Obaga
village, Abia State, Mamud Ibrahim, 30, arrested in Kaduna, near NNPC depot.
Exhibits recovered from them are one Truck XB 169 GWB with
33,000 litres of cooked diesel, one truck loaded with cooked diesel.
Awunah said that the three suspects mentioned above were
arrested by the IGP’s team.
He noted that the first and second suspects were arrested in
Abia State after vandalising NNPC pipelines at a point in Owaza area of Abia
State and siphoning 33,000 litres of cooked diesel.
The last suspect was arrested in Kaduna State for being in
possession of a truck loaded with 25,000 litres of cooked diesel suspected to
have been vandalized.
Awunah, who said that the successes recorded wouldn’t have
been achieved without assistance from members of the public, added: “A
particular mention must be made of the governors and government of Delta and
Bayelsa states that provided and donated modern gun boats that eased the
operations of Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Units in the creeks of Niger Delta.”
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