By Philip Nwosu
The Nigerian Navy has warned pipeline vandals in the Arepo area of Lagos and their sponsors that it would not hesitate to unleash venom on them if they continue to break the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines within the area.
The Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Maurice Eno, gave the warning while handing over two suspected vandals and 50 litres of jerry can fully loaded with fuel to the officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
He said the Nigerian Navy had cogent intelligence that there were other collaborators that indulge in pipeline vandalism/oil theft, warning them to turn a new leaf or be severely dealt with.
He said: “We warn pipeline vandals and other criminal elements in our environment to turn a new leaf and pursue legal means of livelihood. Otherwise, the long arm of the law will surely catch up with them. It is not going to be business as usual. I advise well-meaning citizens of the country to dissociate from illegality and give useful information to the Nigerian Navy or other security agencies on all forms of criminalities going on in their areas.”
Commodore Eno said the suspects were arrested a few days after the pipeline supplying fuels from Atlas Cove to Mosimi depot was reopened.
He said the 76 kilometres pipeline was shut down for 11 months due to severe acts of vandalism on the lines and to enable repairs.
“The maintenance of the lines was completed early this year and pumping of products to Mosimi commenced March 21, 2017. However, at about 3am on March 27, 2017 a private security outfit engaged by the NNPC for security and maintenance of the pipelines, in conjunction with personnel of ‘Operation Awatse’ arrested two suspected pipeline vandals around Imagbo area of Ogun State,” he added.
He said the two suspects, Sulaiman Ismail from Ogun and Kinsley Imaeto from Anambra State were arrested with 53 numbers of 50 litres jerry cans containing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) suspected to have been siphoned from the pipelines.
The product, he said, were conveyed in four vehicles as at the time of the arrest, adding that the vehicles, which were impounded by the force, included a Toyota Sienna Bus, a Volkswagen bus, a Mazda bus and a Toyota Camry car.
Speaking with the Daily Sun, the suspects said they were not vandals but people hired to transport the product from Mowe to their sales point.
They said it was during the process of the transportation that they were arrested by the security operatives, adding that they had not fully collected the money they were promised by the owners of the fuel.