Men of the Anti-Vandal Squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
(NSCDC), Oyo State Command, on Thursday dsclosed that three men suspected to be NNPC pipelines vandals have been arrested, while four vehiclres were impounded. The Commandant, Mr Shem Obafaiye, who paraded the suspects in Ibadan, said they were apprehended at Ibudo Jesu Area of Surulere Local Government, Ogbomoso.
According to him, the arrests would not have been possible without the help of men of the State Joint Task Force popularly known as ``Operation Burst.’’
He explained that ambush was laid on the suspects’ hideout after a tip-off and various items worth millions were recovered from the scene.
He said the alleged culprits had already tapped into an NNPC petroleum pipeline that passed through the area and were only waiting to convey the products when they were rounded off. ‘Our commitment in curtailing activities of vandals will in the long run serve as a deterrent to others. The public has been doing their best in availing us with information on activities of criminals and this is aided by the cordial relationship and trust we share with them.
``Our intelligence gathering personnel are also up to the task and with time, if this vandals have sponsors, they too will be caught,’’ Obafaiye warned.
The Commandant stated that items recovered from the vandals included a welding machine, rubber hoses fitted with pipes, one sledge hammer and a generator. Other items confiscated were; one wrench, three pipe screws, two punch chisels, one mattock, 11 welding electrodes and a hoe. Obafaiye added that four vehicles were also impounded at the scene of the ambush with
about 231 empty 25Litres kegs in the vehicles at the time of the seizure.
The vehicles impounded include; a white coloured Toyota Hiace bus with Lagos number, XR 400 LND, Mazda 323 saloon car registered, Oyo AG 126 RSD, a Toyota Corolla marked Lagos BL 19 AKD and one red Mitsubishi Lancer marked Lagos MX 337 KJA. Obafaiye said the suspects, who all denied direct involvement in the allegations, would be arraigned in court immediately investigations were concluded.
