By Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja
Operatives of the Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have arrested 18 suspected pipeline vandals, just as the unit impounded two vessels and 20 trucks loaded with stolen petroleum products.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Don Awunah, disclosed this while parading some of the suspects before journalists, yesterday, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Awunah who said constant vandalism of pipelines, destruction of oil and gas infrastructure was a source of grave concern to the Force, stated that the arrests were made in a coordinated operation based on intelligence and assistance from the key players in the sector.
According to him: “On November 1, 2016, a sustained surveillance and monitoring of Ellen vessel and crew members sailing from Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states waterways to Lagos state with illegally refined AGO (diesel) on board was embarked upon by the IGP’s Task Force on Illegal Petroleum Bunkering.”
He said the vessel was intercepted at Satomen’s Jetty located at Amuwo Odofin in Mile 2 area of Lagos state where it had discharged the diesel into 18 trucks, 33,000 liters each, on November 3.
The spokesperson said, the vessel, crew members, the 18 trucks and other suspects were promptly arrested and taken into custody by the IGP’s Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering.
He named the suspects to include: Tumbiri Ezekiel, captain; Thomas Arimoro Azamosa, company representative; Godwil Offeh, Chief mate; Alfred Iwanefun, engineer; Emmanuel Uyoi, deckhand and Godwin Tabiti, electrician.
Others are: Omokete Enengite, engineer cadet; Victor Onyenike, seaman; Suleiman Ahmadu and William Okitikpo, noting that the suspects are in police custody in Lagos.
Speaking further, he said another vessel branded MB OPUDA SHIP was also intercepted at the same location, on October 28, after discharging suspected illegally refined diesel into two tankers which were impounded.
He said, five suspects: Harison Chinedu, 40; Mohammed Abdulkadir, 21; Idris Bawa, 28; Emmanuel Akighir, 39; and Suleiman Musa, 22 were arrested; just as equipment used by the vandals were recovered.
Awunah said the suspects during interrogation volunteered confessional statements and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the crime, noting that investigation into the case was being intensified to arrest other members of the group at large.
Similarly, on October 13, following intelligence the Task-Force foiled activities of vandals on NNPC pipeline at Monkey’s village Okpella area of Edo state, where fleeing suspects abandoned a truck loaded with 20,000 litres of diesel, operational vehicle and tools used for vandalism.
The spokesperson listed items recovered as: one white Scania Lorry with Reg No. RBC 552 ZS; one Toyota PERVIA Bus with Reg No. EKY 659 BJ; four pumping machines; motor jack; two motor batteries; four shovels; one filling machine; one pumping hose and two tarpaulin.
He said one Amechi Aduma, 47, suspected to be the owner of the illegally refined product, arrested in Abia state, alongside Ezechi Peter, 17, arrested at Obaga village; after reportedly vandalising NNPC pipeline at a point in Owaza area and siphoned 33,000 litres of cooked diesel.
One Mamud Ibrahim, 30, was arrested near NNPC depot in Kaduna state for being in possession of a truck loaded with 25,000 litres of cooked diesel suspected to have been vandalised.
