33 suspected vandals held with 330,000 litres of fuel

The Police have arrested 33 suspected vandals and recovered 330,000 litres of fuel from them.

The fuel, loaded in 10 trucks, was siphoned from National Petroleum Corporation (NNDC) pipelines.

Commander of the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on pipeline vandalism, Valentine Olumese, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), while handing over the products to NNPC officials, said the arrest and recoveries were made in the last two months in different parts of the country.

Olumese said the task force would adopt advance and effective techniques in stopping pipeline vandalism without attendant loss of life.

 He said:  “This strategy is paying off immensely and it is aimed at discouraging the vandals. The number of arrest and recoveries made so far, with no bloody confrontation with the vandals has shown that we are winning the war. I want to assure members of the public that we are not going to relent in our efforts, and we will also ensure that those arrested are prosecuted.  As I speak, all the suspects have been arraigned in court and they have been remanded in prison custody. “

Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) Public Relations Officer Imodagde Nasir, who confirmed receipt of the products, said returning of such products was an ongoing process between NNPC and the security agencies.

Nasir said the recovered products would be returned to the system for decanting, adding that they have received over 80,000 litres and “we are expecting more”.

 “This is not the first time we are receiving stolen petroleum products from security agencies. A few months ago, the Nigerian Navy made huge recoveries from Majidun in Ikorodu and they handed over the products to us and we had them returned into the system for decanting. We all have a collective role to play in the fight against pipeline vandalism.  The act of vandalism has an enormous ecological effect on our society. Every Nigerian must see it as a duty to protect his environment by assisting the security agents in fighting pipeline vandalism,” he said.

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