When Salifu Odiba gained admission to study Medicine and Surgery at University of Jos in 1996, his dream was to one day own his hospital.

But two years after his graduation, the 35-year-old doctor abandoned his stethoscope and chose life on the fast lane by joining pipeline vandalism cartel.

Odiba, who was recently arrested in Kogi State by the Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism, Force Headquarters, said he was attracted to the illegal business because it was lucrative.

He said, “I spent eight years studying Medicine and Surgery in UNIJOS and graduated in 2004 and later served in Bauchi State. A year later, I got a job at Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission where I practised for six months. But I was later asked to leave.

“I moved to Kogi in 2006 and it was there that a friend introduced me to the business. I was making good money and later got a part time job at Federal Medical Centre. I received N90,000 as monthly salary which was not enough for me. So, I stuck to the pipeline business.”

The suspect added that he even had a part-time job at another hospital but the commission he received was too little.

Describing his modus operandi, the Kogi State indigene said he acted as a middleman for the vandals and buyers.

He said although he never destroyed a pipeline, he was actively involved in the business and soon became popular.

He said he was usually paid commission by pipeline vandals and buyers after he had sold the products.

 “People started calling me ‘oil doctor’ because I always had ready buyers for all kinds of petroleum products. Oil business is very lucrative especially in Kogi State where as many as 17 trucks of petroleum products could be siphoned and sold in one night,” he said.

Odiba lamented that the medical profession was no longer as prestigious as it was due to the “large number” of people practising it.

“People don’t visit hospitals like before. These days, many Nigerians prefer to take self medication,” he said.

Narrating how he was arrested, the suspect said he was contacted by a source at Lokoja, the state capital, who claimed to have large quantities of oil in a barge.

He said he was on his way to finalise the deal when policemen arrested him.

Odiba, who vowed not to return to crime if released, burst into tears when narrating the hardship he had suffered in the past.

He said although N90, 000 was not a poor salary, the pressures of having to take care of his siblings fuelled his greed.

He said, “I have four siblings and my parents are retired. I am the first son and through this business, I have been able to sponsor two of my siblings through university and they have graduated. I don’t spend the money I make on myself. I have a fiancée but I can’t even afford a wedding now.

“I don’t want my siblings to suffer and I did this for them. Crime for me was due to a quest for survival but I promise never to go back to it. I spent last year’s Christmas in police custody after being arrested in Kaduna. This year again, I’m spending my Christmas in detention.

“I’m tired of this life of crime and I promise never to go back to it again. My dream is still to own a hospital and even while doing the oil business; I rendered free medical services to people.”

Odiba, who was arrested and detained for a similar offence last year, said he was released and warned when investigation showed that he only played a minor role.

The Officer in charge of the task force, Friday Ibadin said Odiba’s case was proof that not only miscreants were into the illegitimate business.

He said, “The suspect was arrested at Lokoja.  Ajaokuta specifically has become a haven for these criminals. The business is very lucrative because a tanker of crude oil could be bought illegally for as low as N800, 000 and resold at N5m during scarcity.

“This is economic sabotage and it carries a life sentence. Members of the public are hereby warned to stay away from the nation’s pipelines.”

http://www.punchng.com/metro/doctor-abandons-medicine-becomes-pipeline-vandal/

What goes around!

Yeh.....Cant believe i made it to d top....What a wonderful way to start d Xmas party

2nd

*speechless*

i made top 5

chineji: When Salifu Odiba gained admission to study Medicine and Surgery at University of Jos in 1996, his dream was to one day own his hospital.

But two years after his graduation, the 35-year-old doctor abandoned his stethoscope and chose life on the fast lane by joining pipeline vandalism cartel.

Odiba, who was recently arrested in Kogi State by the Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism, Force Headquarters, said he was attracted to the illegal business because it was lucrative.

He said, “I spent eight years studying Medicine and Surgery in UNIJOS and graduated in 2004 and later served in Bauchi State. A year later, I got a job at Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission where I practised for six months. But I was later asked to leave.

“I moved to Kogi in 2006 and it was there that a friend introduced me to the business. I was making good money and later got a part time job at Federal Medical Centre. I received N90,000 as monthly salary which was not enough for me. So, I stuck to the pipeline business.”

The suspect added that he even had a part-time job at another hospital but the commission he received was too little.

Describing his modus operandi, the Kogi State indigene said he acted as a middleman for the vandals and buyers.

He said although he never destroyed a pipeline, he was actively involved in the business and soon became popular.

He said he was usually paid commission by pipeline vandals and buyers after he had sold the products.

 “People started calling me ‘oil doctor’ because I always had ready buyers for all kinds of petroleum products. Oil business is very lucrative especially in Kogi State where as many as 17 trucks of petroleum products could be siphoned and sold in one night,” he said.

Odiba lamented that the medical profession was no longer as prestigious as it was due to the “large number” of people practising it.

“People don’t visit hospitals like before. These days, many Nigerians prefer to take self medication,” he said.

Narrating how he was arrested, the suspect said he was contacted by a source at Lokoja, the state capital, who claimed to have large quantities of oil in a barge.

He said he was on his way to finalise the deal when policemen arrested him.

Odiba, who vowed not to return to crime if released, burst into tears when narrating the hardship he had suffered in the past.

He said although N90, 000 was not a poor salary, the pressures of having to take care of his siblings fuelled his greed.

He said, “I have four siblings and my parents are retired. I am the first son and through this business, I have been able to sponsor two of my siblings through university and they have graduated. I don’t spend the money I make on myself. I have a fiancée but I can’t even afford a wedding now.

“I don’t want my siblings to suffer and I did this for them. Crime for me was due to a quest for survival but I promise never to go back to it. I spent last year’s Christmas in police custody after being arrested in Kaduna. This year again, I’m spending my Christmas in detention.

“I’m tired of this life of crime and I promise never to go back to it again. My dream is still to own a hospital and even while doing the oil business; I rendered free medical services to people.”

Odiba, who was arrested and detained for a similar offence last year, said he was released and warned when investigation showed that he only played a minor role.

The Officer in charge of the task force, Friday Ibadin said Odiba’s case was proof that not only miscreants were into the illegitimate business.

He said, “The suspect was arrested at Lokoja.  Ajaokuta specifically has become a haven for these criminals. The business is very lucrative because a tanker of crude oil could be bought illegally for as low as N800, 000 and resold at N5m during scarcity.

“This is economic sabotage and it carries a life sentence. Members of the public are hereby warned to stay away from the nation’s pipelines.”

http://www.punchng.com/metro/doctor-abandons-medicine-becomes-pipeline-vandal/

Na wa

^^
^^re*tards . . . Smh

.

This is too bad to come from a Dokita...

Merry christmas doc . . .

#80million:
*speechless*

i made top 5

c dis one nOw

. . .dis stOrY *speechLess* dat One *speechLess*
evErythIng *speechLess*

. . .speechLess ur head!!


c hIn head,Like . . .

Like. . .

Like. . . coconUt

BBPREYEgarri:

Na wa

and dis One tOo. . .una dan see wertIn 2 much gaRRI DEY Cos?? . . .it coLonises d brain

*speechLess*

BBPREYEgarri:

Na wa

gosh u annoying must you quote the whole article to say that?

gosh Mis*creants

Doctor u are a big disgrace to human race. 90k a month and anoda part time job couldn't drag u away from taking d nation back to stone age era? U deserve wateva dat wil kum out of dis. Shame on u!!! Ingrate. Spit on ur tomb in advance,but pray dat govt will nt execute u

#80million:
*speechless*

i made top 5

You guys are turning Nairaland to a huge joke.

A medic in pipeline vandalisation does not sober you.

And you are talking about who posts first.

You should be sorry for yourselves

nekaa: .

ehn ehn?? WeRtIn dis wan con be

c ur Nose Like kpomOr

We all have stories, the ability to outgrow the past take on the present and project for future is a responsibility for everyone. There are people that have faced faarrr worse situations these guy is only playing on emotions which won't work for an average Nigerian. His story is just an average if not a more lenient life story. After becoming a M.D you can still condescend to this, you head needs to be examined.

Dr.Oil

Why all these ret.arded responses on NL? Has NL been introduced to the mentally challenged homes?

“This is economic sabotage and it carries a life sentence. Members of the public are hereby warned to stay away from the nation’s pipelines.”

O'yea? isn't stealing and diversion of the nation's wealth economic sabotage? what does it carry? A Pat on the back? how many governors, senators and ex-presidents are serving life sentences?
The little guys in the system are always the ones used as scapegoats. Dr oil was giving free medical services, the elite will steal and use the money to oppress the little guys in the society.

he will now be dr prisoner assuming our legal system does not release him.

Dr Greed!

There is No justification for evil.

Let him face the full force of the law. If we all abandon our careers to pursue criminal activities becos of money, the whole place will descend into chaos.
Olojukokoro!

Oil Business is very lucrative.

What is wrong with this guy... Doesn't he know that Medicine is an art... In fact a noble art

I always tell medics in my thread, don't study medicine if it is only for the money, cos you may run into trouble one day....

Why didn't he write his primary fellowship exam and specialize in surgery or internal medicine, that way he'll earn a better salary... Registrars are paid btw 230-265,000...

Well, that's the end of his career anyway

Ok like was this guy married with kids when he was getting 90k nd the commission from the part time job?
I don't know but 90k as at 2004/2005 and even today seems ok for any single man living in NIGERIA!
He's just greedy and I say burn Him with any of the finished products of the Oil He Vandalized!

Super1759: but seriously,do people still study medcine to be rich?
8yrs in university...God forbid.

Some people do forgetting its a career of compassion not career of selfishness .

The key issue here is a greedy man will never be content, whether you study medicine or history .

See wetin greediness cause, Doc u must face the consequences of υя deeds.

Well atleast he didn't blame it on the devil...there is a high chance that he is one of those useless doctors that carry out abortions...

dinggle:
O'yea? isn't stealing and diversion of the nation's wealth economic sabotage? what does it carry? A Pat on the back? how many governors, senators and ex-presidents are serving life sentences?
The little guys in the system are always the ones used as scapegoats. Dr oil was giving free medical services, the elite will steal and use the money to oppress the little guys in the society.

Don't condone evil. Evil is evil whether perpetrated by a bus conductor or a governor.

wit less dan 90k, i manage my family well including my siblings. Doc shame on u.

Dr. Wise:
Why all these retarded responses on NL? Has NL been introduced to the mentally challenged homes?

Many people are thinking on how they too can go into this kind of business. I pray they all be caught and rot in jail.

Stealing is stealing .