– Nineteen suspected pipeline vandals have been
apprehended in Lagos
– The Lagos state police command reports that 19
tanker trucks loaded with vandalized PMS were
recovered
– A total of about 33,000 litres of PMS was also
reportedly recovered within the course of the arrest
The Lagos state police command has reported that it
arrested 19 suspected pipeline vandals within the
metropolis.

Suspected pipeline vandals
According to the police, a total of 19 tanker trucks
loaded with vandalized PMS and suspected adulterated
diesel were recovered from the hoodlums in several
operations.
The raids were carried out by the anti-vandalism task
force under the leadership of CSP Murtala Abdullahi
Minjibir.

Confirming the arrest and recovery yesterday, force
public relations officer, DCP Don Awunah said: “14 long
tanker trucks loaded with 33, 000 litres of PMS each and 3
short tanker trucks loaded with 11, 000 litres of suspected
adulterated diesel each were recovered.”
Continuing he said: “In a large scale coordinated operation
carried out in compliance with the directives of the IGP to
rid Lagos and other states where vandalism of oil pipelines
have become endemic by notorious vandals and their
criminal gangs, the Police have arrested several notorious
vandals and recovered trucks loaded with vandalized PMS
and adulterated diesel.”

“These gangs have attacked several riverine villages and
killed innocent people in recent times but the IGP’s Special
Task Force on Pipelines Vandalism/illegal bunkering,
working on actionable intelligence trailed and arrested the
suspects and recovered 17 tanker trucks loaded with
vandalized PMS and adulterated diesel at Bakery Park
owned by one Dr. Emeka in Kiri Kiri area of Lagos state.”


Awunah said: “The suspects during interrogation,
confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the
criminal enterprise. However, investigation is being
intensified to arrest other suspects and their cohorts to
bring them to justice.”
“In a similar operation, the IGP’s Task Force acting on a tip-
off indicating that vandals were operating at Ijora Olopa
area of Lagos State, swooped in on them at the scene of
crime, foiled their nefarious act and arrested the suspects.”
Awunah said: “The suspects during interrogation,
confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the
criminal enterprise. However, investigation is being
intensified to arrest other suspects and their cohorts to
bring them to justice.”


The suspects, according to the police are: Frank Adakpa,
Mallam Asafa, Fatai Bashir, Yahaya Mohammed, Umar
Abdullahi, Wasiu Adeboye, Bilyaminu Abdullahi, Kazeem
Lawal, Abdullahi Musa, Abubakar Mohammed, Abubakar
Abdullahi and Mumkalia Abdullahi. Others are
Mohammed Ibrahim, Umaru Adamu, Samuel Majebi,
Illiasu Musa, Femi Michael, Anas Haruna and Nura Isah.
Also recovered from the vandals were 4 operational
vehicles including one Toyota RAV Jeep, Peugeot Wagon
807, Chevrolet Jeep and Honda Accord Salon car.



In a similar vein, the Nigerian navy on Monday,
September 19, said it destroyed 33,000 litres of
petroleum products in Warri, Delta state.
A statement by the navy spokesperson, Chris Ezekobe
said some personnel on the patrol team conducted an
anti-crude oil theft operation in Warri South local
government area of Delta state on Saturday, September
17.
Ezekobe, a commodore said during the operation, two
illegal refineries located at Lakpaje and Ubeje creeks
were raided and 18,000 litres and 15,000 litres of
suspected stolen crude oil and refined AGO were
recovered and destroyed.




[a] https://www.naij.com/977360-crime-watch-19-pipeline-vandals-arrested-lagos-33000ltrs-gas-recovered-photos.html?source=index_main[/a]

busted