The Ogun State Command of Nigeria Police Force, located in Eleweran, Abeokuta has gone brutal on oil pipeline vandals, who illegally vandalise and siphon oil pipeline networks in the State, especially in Arepo, Akute and Ogijo as operatives of Nigeria Police intercepted a 33-litre truck loaded with the vandalised premium motor spirit and arrested one suspect.
The interception of siphoned petrol product at Ogijo in Sagamu local government area came barely four days, the Police bust a gang of pipeline vandals at Akute Odo by Ishasi Creek in Ifo local government area of the state and recovered four operational boats, seven vehicles and hundreds of jerry cans and other containers where siphoned PMS was stored.
Speaking on the arrest in Abeokuta on Sunday, Abdulmajid Ali, Commissioner of Police, declared that the State Command of Nigeria Police had put “all officers on their toes to make sure that pipelines and installations are adequately protected particularly during this fuel crisis as many of the hoodlums will want to seize the opportunity to perpetrate their criminal act of economic sabotage.”
This declaration led to the arrest and interceptions of siphoned PMS and recovery of equipment used in vandalising oil pipelines as the Police operatives attached to Sagamu Division of the State Police Command intercepted the truck marked KTU 760 XC – LAGOS, loaded with siphoned petrol product and arrested one Elochukwu Byron, a middle-age man, while others were at large.
The suspect and the exhibits, according to the Police Commissioner, would be transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, Eleweran in Abeokuta for further investigation that would assist in tracing fleeing membersof the gang as well as revealing more information that would assist the Police.
The Commissioner of Police, however, assured the people of the State of adequate protection of lives and property and exposure of any criminal that may want to disturb the existing peace we enjoy in Ogun state.
RAZAQ AYINLA
