43 suspects arrested for mixing diesel with kerosene

Operatives of the Lagos State Task Force have arrested 43 pipeline vandals and recovered 2.5 million litres of adulterated diesel along Alausa, Ikeja axis of Lagos State.

According to Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, a Superintendent of Police (SP), Olayinka Egbeyemi, three prime suspects are Iyiola Adeyinka, Adeyinka and Nonso Mordi. He said they were arrested over the weekend.

Egbeyemi said that the agency acted on a petition submitted to his office on the illegal activities of these oil vandals at Plot 8, Elephant Cement Way, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

Egbeyem said that the 43 suspected vandals were caught while mixing original diesel with kerosene and selling at a reduced price to the public.

He said that during preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the illegal business has been on for over seven years. He said that the adulterated diesel was supplied to the public particularly big companies across the state.

He said: “Adulterated diesel worth 2.5 million litres was loaded inside gallons and six different trucks with registration numbers FST 615 XR, EPE 672 XC, DKW 05 XA, KTU 750 XN, BDG 717 XA, FKJ 327 XH and XR 95 LSD before they were nabbed. The newly signed Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Bill by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would safe guard against dysentery and other pandemics in the state.”

Adeyinka, said the owner of company ‘Jlobjin Petroleum Ltd,’ where they were arrested, belonged to one Alhaji Lukumon Ojena, who is still at large.

Adeyinka said: “We normally mix diesel with kerosene on daily basis and supply large quantities to the public, particularly communication companies and banks at cheaper rates across the state. We make sales of over N20million every day from the adulterated diesel. Government should help me because I’m the only son of my family.”

Another suspect, Mr. Mordi, described the business as lucrative. He said they used to be paid between N3, 000 to N4, 000 per day.

His words: “We have a very good relationship with some of the major oil marketers who supplied us diesel and kerosene every day.”

Some of the mechanics around the area complained about the activities of the illegal oil dealers in recent past. Residents complained that the illegal activities have often resulted in serious fire outbreak.

Mr. Anjorin Babalola, a mechanic said they were afraid to make a report to government because they had often being threatened by the oil dealers.

A food vendor, simply identified as Rebecca Ogunsanya, commended the operatives, revealing that on daily basis different trucks, loaded with 33,000 litres diesel and kerosene usually come to offload their content in the compound.

He confessed that they mixed diesel with kerosene on daily basis and supplied in large quantities to the public particularly communication companies and banks at cheaper rates across the State.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Fatai Owoseni has directed that all the suspects arrested in connections with the crime should immediately be charged to court.