The pipeline vandals arrested in Lagos
Security operatives have arrested six citizens of the Republic of Benin for allegedly siphoning fuel from vandalised pipelines of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
The suspects identified as Suru Hunpevi, 30; Messel Hungo, 25; Mark Huntoji, 22; Emmanuel Somoten, 18; Joseph Gbehan, 21 and 29-year-old Gbenonu Jonas – were rounded up by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Sunday on the sea in the Badagry area of Lagos while they were about to cross the border to their country.
A staggering 13,250 litres of diesel were recovered from the suspects while a pumping machine and the two speedboats they used for the operation were also impounded.
According to the Lagos State command of the corps, the Beninoise suspects had yet to speak up on the alleged crime due to language barrier.
The NSCDC Commandant in Lagos, Tajudeen Balogun, said the suspects would be charged to court upon the completion of investigation and urged criminally minded people to steer clear from pipeline vandalism, stressing that the command would ensure that the culprits faced the full weight of the law.
He said, “The arrest we made in Badagry was done on the sea around Gberefu Island. The six suspected vandals were Beninoise and wanted to cross the border to the Republic of Benin. Fifty three drums of petrol with 250 litres in each drum were recovered from them. We also seized two speedboats and a pumping machine from them. They were suspected to have siphoned the fuel from vandalised NNPC pipelines.
“The two suspects were arrested on Sunday around Ita Oluwo, Ikorodu, with a bus filled with fuel-laden 50-litre jerrycans. Investigation is still ongoing.”