Chiemelie Ezeobi
About 60 suspected pipeline vandals have been arrested by operatives of
the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ikorodu area
of Lagos State, while tampering with fuel pipelines that ran through
Majidun.
The suspects were arrested few weeks after operatives of the Lagos
State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit
raided Ikorodu suburbs in a manhunt for pipeline vandals.
NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Shem Obafaiye, told journalists after the arrest
that NSCDC officers had stormed the area on December 6 and discovered
several kegs of fuel, which the suspects were using to store fuel.
Obafaiye said fully armed operatives of the NSCDC carried out the raid, where they were able to arrest 60 suspected pipeline vandals, despite the fact that the villagers attacked them with cutlasses, guns and bottles among others.
Obafaiye said fully armed operatives of the NSCDC carried out the raid, where they were able to arrest 60 suspected pipeline vandals, despite the fact that the villagers attacked them with cutlasses, guns and bottles among others.
According to him, operatives of the corps had first stormed the area on
Sunday to arrest the suspects but were not successful, prompting them
to reinforce Monday.
The commandant explained that at least, seven of security operatives
attached to NSCDC “are seriously injured by the villagers. They attacked
our men with guns, cutlasses, broken bottles and other dangerous
weapons.”
“Sunday night, we got security tip that vandals were operating at
Majidun area of Ikorodu, our men went there and saw several kegs of PMS
and came with several of them. This morning, we got wind of vandals in
the area again.
“We have to go back and the villagers came out to attack my men, but we
succeeded in arresting 60 of them. We have received report that a
traditional ruler in the area is behind the operation. My boys were
attacked and wounded,” added Shem, who is the Commandant, Lagos NSCDC,”
Obafaiye said.
He warned that it was not going to be business as usual as the command
had vowed to eradicate vandalism from Lagos, saying the arrested
suspects would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crime
Commission (EFCC).
But one of the suspects denied being a bunkerer, adding that he “is a mechanic. I did not attack any civil defence official. My arrest was unjust and illegal because I am not into pipeline vandalism.”
While Mr. Kamorudeen Raji, a suspect claimed he was into sand business and not a pipeline vandal, Mr. Shina John, claimed he was just arrested for no just cause.
But one of the suspects denied being a bunkerer, adding that he “is a mechanic. I did not attack any civil defence official. My arrest was unjust and illegal because I am not into pipeline vandalism.”
While Mr. Kamorudeen Raji, a suspect claimed he was into sand business and not a pipeline vandal, Mr. Shina John, claimed he was just arrested for no just cause.
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