NSCDC nabs suspected vandals, recovers 14,000-litre fuel

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►The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested three suspected vandals for allegedly vandalising the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation pipeline.

►The suspects ─ Oloyede King, Rasaq Olawale and Kolapo Obe ─ were alleged to have burst NNPC pipelines on the Lagos Island, scooping 280 (50 litres) jerry cans of petroleum products.

It was learnt that the products, estimated at 14,000 litres, were recovered in the area during two separate operations.

Our correspondent also gathered that some vandals evaded arrest by jumping into the water on sighting the operatives of the corps who stormed the area after a tip-off.

One of the suspects, King, who denied engaging in vandalism, said he dealt in illegal trading of “Remain on Board fuel”, which was introduced to him by a friend recently.

He said, “I am not a vandal. It was the RoB that could not be offloaded from ships by seamen. I bought 50 litres of the product from them at the rate of N4,000; sell it to my customers at the rate of N5,000. A friend introduced me to the business after noticing that I used to sit at the Leventis bus stop doing nothing.”

Obe, from whom kerosene and diesel were seized, also said he bought the products from some security officials.

“We buy them from some security personnel and sell to members of the public at a cheaper rate. Since it was the government security officials that were selling them to me, I never knew it could lead me to this situation,” he said.

Olawale, however, declined to speak with our correspondent.

The state Commandant of the corps, Mr. Donatus Ikemefuna, said, “NSCDC, Lagos State Command, has impounded a total of 280 jerry cans of petroleum products stocked in 50 litres jerrycans.

“The recovery was made on the Lagos Island in two operations. We got a tip-off and our team went there and discovered over 170 (50 litres) jerrycans filled with petroleum products. The suspects jumped into the water. The three suspects were arrested on Thursday at the Leventis area with more 110 (50 litres) of petroleum products.’’

Ikemefuna said the suspects would be charged to court.