| The scene of the canal where these vandals bunker their ill gotten petroleum products |
Chiemelie Ezeobi recently investigated the incessant pipeline vandalism at 7th Avenue, FESTAC Town area of Lagos and reports that accusing fingers have been pointed at the security bodies especially the police as accessories to the illegality
"I was a fisherman but I had to take up the job of a canoe paddler when the source of my livelihood; fishing was aborted by the pollution of the water by oil spillage." Those were the words of father of four; Mr. Francis Adokun whose current job as a canoe peddler fetches him just N200 a day.
Adokun like several others before him are fishermen or were fishermen before their source of livelihood was stifled by the pollution of the river, a resultant effect of pipeline vandalism at 7th Avenue, FESTAC Town area of Lagos State.
Six years ago, Adokun and several other fishermen could boast of adequately taking care of their families from the money they made from fishing. Well, that was six years ago. Now, most of them are jobless and others barely survive in their quest to make money through odd jobs.
A normal day fishing although stressful however assured them of going home with pockets rustling with cool naira notes and the welcoming smile of their wives and children.
The fishes were either sold fresh to restaurants and individuals or smoked and dried over the local hearth.
Either way, it afforded them the opportunity to carter for their family. Adokun had already trained one of his kids to the university level when the vandals struck and rendered him impotent to carter for the other three.
Narrating his ordeal to THISDAY he said, "I and several others used to fish in this water. We made ends meet. We caught enough fish to sell and eat. Suddenly, we noticed that the water was darkening and giving off fuel odours. We couldn't explain it.
"First, our fished started to grow lean and then finally the disappeared. I guess they must have died. Then the water began to have slices of rainbow on it and it was then our lives turned for the worse."
When asked what advice the government, he declined adding that there was nothing to say that they were already not aware off. He however said, "Even if the government intervenes now, there is no hope of having fishes here ever again. This water can never be clean again for years."
Faced with the option of watching his family starve to death and his children drop out of school, he took up the job of a canoe paddler. "To make ends meet, I use this boat to cross farmers across the river. A trip costs N20 each and I make up to N200 a day.
"But again, this depends on how many customers I have in a day. When the rainy season comes, the farmers can't go their farms and it means I have lesser customers, " he added sadly.
For sure, you must have heard about pipeline vandalism or might have been a victim of its attendant effects. However sad and depressing it is, you most certainly might or might not have heard or witnessed the collaboration of the vandals with the police.
As painful as it is, it remains the simple and common enactment of man’s inhumanity to man. The song maestro late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who has times without number prophesied about the future with songs, was definitely in his prophetic unction when he sang “Police station don turn to bank, DPO na bank manager”.
This accurately depicts the situation among some members of the force or what would you say when the tears, pains and suffering of the citizens they swore to protect is their gain.
Constitutionally, security agencies are meant to protect lives as well as well safeguard properties. However, Investigations by THISDAY revealed that the reason why pipeline vandalism has been on the rise boils down to police collaboration with the vandals. A house divided against itself shall fall; accordingly, when police men collaborate with criminals, crime fighting takes the back seat.
This act tagged ‘I wan register” entitles the person the freedom to vandalise pipelines and still be assured of police protection. For those who have the business savvy to do this, the fee enables them to bunker, vandalise and also covers police escort to deliver the vandalised products to the buyers.
While speaking to THISDAY on strict conditions of anonymity, a former pipeline vandal revealed the modus operandi of their illegal act at the FESTAC creek. He said, "We usually carry out our operations between 1-3am and we always went with policemen as our escorts. It was a joint collaboration between the police, the vandals and some officials of the PPMC. It is so amicably organised that there is no quarrel as everyone gets what is due them and on time too.
"On the agreed days, the PPMC unplugs the particular pipeline in the dead of the night or morning and then connects the pipeline to the hose which we have already put in place. So the products are diverted to our hose which runs over 7km to the collection base far from where its connected to the pipeline.
"The hose is buried underground near the canal and that is why several inspections carried out in that area never uncovers it. However, after 7km's the hose resurges at the collection base which is a huge container. It's from there the products are poured into Jerry cans and and then tied together with chains.
"The Jerry cans are then pushed into the canal and one person drags it across the river to the other side where the police are stationed. For security reasons, the people that usually buy the illegal products are also on standby and they cart it away in their trucks with police escort of course."
He went on to disclose that the operation has run for six years and that every area commander that comes to the area knows its a viable source of income worth protecting. He claimed each area commander receives about N250, 000 every week.
To buttress his claims, he said the deal once leaked and some policemen from the State Criminal and Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, stormed the creeks and arrested some of the vandals but they were later released.
He said, "When the vandals were arrested, the FESTAC policemen were angry and shot the car tyres of the Panti detectives to stop them from taking them away. Despite this, the vandals were still taken away.
"Again, to release the vandals and prevent them from squealing, the police convinced the others to contribute money to secure their release. Some paid N100,000 while others paid N50, 000 when the police promised they will refund the money. But that was a big lie as they have not been paid back till date."
THISDAY sought the opinion of some of the residents at 7th Avenue who stand a greater risk if an explosion occurs and they were all of the opinion that theirs was a lost cause as those supposed to protect would rather connive with the vandals.
Their fears are not unfounded as the sabotaging act of the pipeline vandals had of recent caused an explosion in the area that would have disastrous but for the timely intervention of the emergency services.
Recently, they breathed a small sigh of relief with raid of the vandals site. The raid THISDAY gathered, kept the vandals away for three weeks. Some of the vandals had engaged operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to a gun duel at the FESTAC area. Although the vandals succeeded in escaping, about 10,000 Litres of PMS were recovered.
According to one of the residents, Mr. Damola Arowolo,
the vandals only thrive because they have the backing of security agencies especially the police. He said, "Although I was not around when some of the vandals were arrested recently but I heard there was a clean up. That alone was surprising because they usually come to vandalise with policemen as escorts.
"There is a pipeline across the river and they have destroyed the water with their vandalism. Before, some people use the water but that has stopped now. It has affected so many wells in the area."
Asked on the alleged connivance of police he said, "The police has not intimidated us because we kept our cool and turned the other way. Since the police who are supposed to protect us are working in tandem with them, what do you want us to do?
"The policemen come heavily armed but I cannot say if they are from the FESTAC Division. We moved in here about two years ago and met the situation on ground. We are calling on the government to intervene.
"We are concerned because fire outbreak could occur in this area because the products have thoroughly coated the water. We are even scared to apply any type of fire outside for fear of an explosion."
While residents inFESTAC Town are calling for checks and balances for the security bodies, the residents in Arepo community in Ogun State are no better. They face the same challenge and perhaps worser fate.
One of the residents of Arepo who spoke to THISDAY on strict conditions of anonymity said they have had to live with their fate because those that should be protecting them would rather connive with vandals.
The claims of the residents was recently confirmed when the Special Inspector General of Police Task Force on Anti Pipeline Vandalism led by ACP Friday Ibadin, arrested two suspects, Timi Koro and Wusaina Etipiewey and confessed that they got away with their act because of their symbiotic relationship with security personnel.
The cases of Arepo and FESTAC Town was witnessed about two years ago by residents of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) owned Diamond Estate, Idimu area of the state. The residents were faced with incessant pipeline explosions until they drew government's attention to their situation.
According to the then welfare officer of the Estate, Mr. Gbolahan Nejo, asides the environmental hazards the incident posed on their lives, they were threatened by policemen attached to the Idimu Police Station for daring to speak out.
When contacted by THISDAY to react to the allegations, the Area E Commander, Dan Okoro, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said there was no iota of truth in the claims. He said, "who are the police officers and who made the allegations. These are general statements. Are you aware that the place is being manned by the Civil Defence?
"There is no pipeline that cross into 7th Avenue. The information is incorrect. You should go there yourself to see things for yourself so you can get it right. Did you see any pipeline there? What you will see there is a swamp. Where the pipelines are is in a very far distance and that was where the last fire occurred.
"So if anyone says that the police, army or immigration are doing anything, find out whether there is any reality to it. It cannot happen in my command. If the police man is found in the act, if they get involved, they pay for it."
When THISDAY also brought up the allegations that some of his men were arrested by SCID operatives and later released, Okoro said, "You better go and find out from where? Which year? Nothing like that ever happened here. You better go and find out."
Also when contacted, the Commandant, Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corps (NCDSC), Mr. Shem Obafaiye could not confirm nor debunk the claims. He however said he was in a meeting and asked THISDAY to come to his office for a debrief.
Still on the incessant pipeline vandalism, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 which comprises of Lagos and Ogun States, Mr. Mamman Tsafe, when asked by THISDAY to react on the allegation that the police and other security agencies were working in tandem with the recalcitrant pipeline vandals, said the special task force set up by the IG was to curb the malaise.
He said, "Recently, the IG inaugurated a squad under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Friday Ibadin, to checkmate the activities of the pipeline vandals as well as ensure accountability by security agencies.
"The IG screened members of the team personally and handed over to an officer whose integrity I do not doubt.There has therefore , been effective coverage and the result of his action are there in several publications to show."
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