IT was theend of the road for three suspected oil vandals on Tuesday as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) advanced its war against vandalism.
Dismantles underground depot, recovers 20,000 litres of fuel
IT was theend of the road for three suspected oil vandals on Tuesday as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) advanced its war against vandalism.
The corporation had stormed Ogere Remo in Ogun State and caught the three vandals, Lanre Adewusi (47), Agbor Ayang (25) and Ebak Oyama (24) in the act, siphoning fuel, while other members of the gang fledon sighting the security operatives.
The corporation recovered no fewer than 20,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, which were already loaded in about 980 jerry cans of 25 and 50 litres sizes.
Located inside the thick forest of Ogere, the vandals scattered their base at strategic spots with makeshift shelter and various sizes of jerry cans fully loaded with fuel.
One of the suspects, Adewusi, who claimed to be a labourer, said he was innocent of the act, as he was lured by other members of the gang after coming into the bush to fetch wood.
“A friend of mine called Kola invited me to come and fetch wood, because we are labourers. I never knew he was bringing me to scoop fuel. It was when I got here that I saw all the activities going on here, but no sooner than we started, the security agencies came and arrested us. Kola was fortunate to run away, but because I don’t know the route in the bush I could not run and I was arrested,” he said.
The Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the NNPC, linked the sabotage to the fuel supply shortage in the system, assuring that it would continue to work with security officials to protect the lines across the country.
The Security Coordinator, Topline Letting Limited, (the firm in charge of protecting NNPC pipelines in the South West), Adigun Adetona, described the arrest as a landmark achievement, which would send a strong signal to other vandals operating in the area.
He said: “Topline, in collaboration with security agencies will continue to confront the vandals and match them with whatever they have. It is no more business as usual.”
According to him, the company made some discoveries and arrests in December at Ajewe, Ilase and Robert village near Atlas Cove, which attracted the attention of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu.
The Operations Manager, Joshua Aminu said: “We were tipped about the activities going on here about a month ago. Thank God we caught them today. We have combed everywhere and confiscated their equipment, including the siphoned products and hundreds of empty jerry cans.”