Soldiers of the 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Abeokuta, have arrested a herbalist and 27 other persons for allegedly vandalising the pipelines of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in Ajura village on Ogere Road, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State. Read more
The soldiers, in a joint operation with
the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the
state, arrested the suspects about 8.30 pm on Sunday following a tip-off
by some residents.
The suspects were said to have attempted to siphon fuel from the vandalised pipelines.
The Commanding Officer, 35 Artillery
Brigade, Brig-Gen. David Ahmadu, while conducting journalists round the
scene on Monday, described the act as an economic sabotage.
Ahmadu explained that the collaboration
between the two security agencies in the state had yielded a positive
results with the success of the joint operation during which the vandals
were arrested.
He said, “What has happened is actually
the collaborative efforts of security agencies and I am using this
opportunity to sound a note of warning to persons who may want to
indulge in such act of criminality to desist from it. We will not allow
any act of criminality in Ogun state and Nigeria in general as far as
pipeline vandalism and any other criminal acts are concerned.”
The state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr.
Akinwande Aboluwaye, who also poke with newsmen at the scene, said 28
persons were arrested for the vandalism.
He also said seven vehicles, 363 plastic
containers, a long hose and some objects believed to be charms, were
part of the exhibits recovered from the suspects.
However, during their parade at the
Alamala Barracks, Abeokuta, one of the suspects, Monday Bitrus, alleged
that one Sergeant Adamu, attached to a police station in Ogere, was one
of those sponsoring the activities of the vandals in the area.
The 20-year-old Bitrus from Katsina
State, claimed that he joined the pipeline vandals two months ago,
adding that about five policemen usually provided them security whenever
they were carrying out their activities.
Another suspect, Ibrahim Wasiu, 22,
said, “I was lured by my friend popularly called Owoseni because I
was financially down. But after I loaded the first vehicle and about
loading the next one, the Army just came and stopped us.”
On the involvement of the police in the
vandalism, Wasiu said, “Before our arrest, I could count five to six
policemen who were always with us.”
The Army later handed over the suspects
to the NSCDC which pledged to charge them to court as soon as
investigation was concluded.
Culled fro, Punch newspaper
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