Five arrested in Ogun for pipeline vandalism Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji - 1 hour ago REGIONAL The suspects are part of a synidicate. A middle aged woman, Adenike Yusuf, has been arrested along with five others suspects for alleged pipeline vandalism and siphoning of petroleum products belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The suspects were apprehended along Abeokuta /Ajebo road, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area by the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp , NSCDC. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Kareem Olanrewaju, told journalists in Abeokuta on Thursday that the gang was captured, shortly after scooping petroleum products from a damaged NNPC pipeline in the area. He said they were arrested in a truck with registration number, Lagos LND 995XC, loaded with jerry cans when officers on routine patrol on Ajebo road accosted them He stated that one of the suspects, Isah Obey, has confessed that his services were enlisted by Ms. Yusuf to convey the products from the Mile Ten area along Ajebo to her shop at Saje in Abeokuta. “In her own confession, Ms. Yusuf said the “job” was brought by one Dickson Idah, 29, who told her that the petroleum products are available and she in turn immediately mobilised him with the sum of N15, 000,” the NSCDC spokesperson said. “Awilo Gamman 28, one of the suspects said he usually siphons the product from different locations within the Ajebo axis and that Mrs. Adenike Yusuf is his regular customer,” Mr. Olanrewaju added. He disclosed the identity of other suspects arrested as motor boy, Idowu Micheal (30) and agent, Job Omino (28) who usually helps them to search for buyer. “They are a syndicate that specialise in selling petroleum products siphoned from vandalised pipelines around Ajebo axis of Obafemi -Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. The syndicate is departmentalized; while some are in charge of vandalism, siphoning, loading- others are charged with the task of taking the tanker to a suitable location where it will be dispensed into small jerry -cans so as to ensure easy access to market or interested buyers,” Mr. Olanrewaju told journalists. He said items recovered from the suspect include: a diesel truck with registration number Lagos LND 995 XC, 67 and 25- litre jerry cans containing petroleum products. Mr. Olarenwaju stated that the suspects would be prosecuted after the completion of investigation, adding that the commandant, Aboluwoye Akinwande, has ordered an immediate investigation into the arrest of the suspects.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 20:04:42 +0000