Police Force Headquarters on Monday paraded suspected pipeline vandals and armed robbers. The Force spokesman DCP Don Awunah who paraded the suspects before journalists at the Force Headquarters Abuja, said, the pipeline vandals suspects were involved in destruction of oil and gas infrastructure and were involved in the illegal dealing in petroleum products in the country.
The massive destruction of Government investment in the Petroleum Industry and loss of lives through the criminal activities of some undesirable elements have continued unabated.
He said “indeed this is worrisome in light of the negative effects it has on the country’s economy. In order to halt this trend of wanton destruction of lives and property in a critical sector of the economy, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris has reorganized and empowered the Anti-Pipeline Vandalization Unit of the Force to decisively tackle these criminals and their collaborators.”
Awunah disclosed that in a coordinated operations based on credible intelligence and assistance from the key players in the petroleum sector, the Anti-Pipeline Vandalization of the Nigeria Police Force arrested 18 suspects, impounded two vessels and twenty trucks loaded with stolen petroleum products as summarized below. Those allegedly involved in Ellen and Mb Opuda vessels
Are: i. Tumbiri Ezekiel ‘M’ (captain)
ii. Thomas Arimoro Azamosa ‘M’ (Company’s Representative)
iii. Godwil Offeh ‘M’ (Chief mate)
iv. Alfred Iwanefun ‘M’ (Engineer)
v. Emmanuel Uyoi ‘M’ (Deckhand)
vi. Godwin Tabiti ‘M’ (Electrician)
vii. Omokete Enengite ‘M’(Engineer Cadet)
viii. Victor Onyenike ‘M’ (Seaman)
ix. Suleiman Ahmadu ‘M’
x. William Okitikpo ‘M’
The 10 suspects are in Police custody in Lagos State.
Exhibits recovered were:
i. Ellen Vessel
ii. MB Opuda Vessel
iii. Eighteen Trucks
On November 1st, 2016 at about 0220hrs, a sustained surveillance and monitoring of Ellen vessel and crew members sailing from Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States water ways to Lagos State with illegally refined AGO (Diesel) on board was embarked upon by the IGP’s Task Force on Illegal Petroleum Bunkering.
Consequently, on November 3rd, 2016 at about 0830hrs, the Task Force trailed and intercepted Ellen vessel at Satomen’s Jetty located at Amuwo Odofin in Mile 2 area of Lagos State where it had discharged the illegal refined AGO (Diesel) into eighteen (18) Trucks, 33,000 liters each. The vessel, crew members, the eighteen Trucks and other suspects were promptly arrested and taken into custody by the IGP’s Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering.
In a similar development, another vessel branded MB OPUDA SHIP was also intercepted and arrested at the same Satomen’s Jetty located at Amuwo Odofin in Mile 2 area of Lagos State after discharging suspected illegally refined AGO (diesel).
Investigations into these cases are ongoing and all suspects will be arraigned in court to face the law.
Other suspects and exhibits are:
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SUSPECTS:
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EXHIBITS:
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i. HARISON CHINEDU ‘M’ 40 YRS
ii. MOHAMMED ABDULKADIR ‘M’ 21 YRS
iii. IDRIS BAWA ‘M’ 28 YRS
iv. EMMANUEL AKIGHIR ‘M’ 39 YRS
v. SULEIMAN MUSA ‘M’ 22 YRS
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i. Two Trucks with Reg No. RGG 76 XA, YKS 108 XA loaded with 20,000 litres of illegally refined ago (diesel) each and recovery of equipment of the vandals.
all with 40,000 liters of cooked diesel
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In a related achievements, on October 28th, 2016 at about 1600hrs, Operatives of the IGP’s Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering on a tip off stormed an illegal local refinery located at Adogu village of Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State, where two trucks were intercepted loaded with illegal AGO products 20,000 liters each. The five (5) suspects mentioned above during interrogation volunteered confessional statements and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime.
However, investigation into the case is being intensified to arrest other members of the group at large. Suspects will be promptly arraigned in court on completion of thorough investigation. Items recovered included:
i. One white Scania Lorry with Reg No. RBC 552 ZS (covered body)
ii. One Toyota PERVIA Bus with Reg No. EKY 659 BJ
iii. Four (4) pumping machine
iv. One big blue motor jack
v. Two motor batteries
vi. Four shovels
vii. One filling machine (yellow color)
viii. One pumping hose
ix. Two tarpaulin
On October 13th, 2016, at about 1200-hrs, intelligence gathered by the IGP’s Special Task-Force on petroleum and illegal
Bunkering revealed that vandalization of NNPC pipeline was ongoing at Monkey’s village Okpella area of Edo State, the Task Force swiftly moved in. On sighting the Police team the vandals took to their heels and abandoned a lorry and some tools used for vandalization. Investigation into the case is currently ongoing.
In Abia State, the police made remarkable achievements. Those arrested were: i. Amechi Aduma ‘M. 47 years (owner of the illegally refined product, arrested in Abia)
ii. Ezechi Peter ‘M’ 17 years ( arrested at Obaga village in Abia State)
iii. Mamud Ibrahim ‘M’ 30 years (arrested in Kaduna near NNPC depot)
EXHIBITS:
i. One Truck XB 169 GWB with 33,000 litres of cooked diesel.
ii. One truck loaded with cooked diesel
The Force PRO said, the three suspects mentioned above were arrested by the IGP’s Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering in Abia and Kaduna States. The first and second suspects were arrested in Abia State after vandalizing NNPC pipeline at a point in Owaza area of Abia State and siphoned 33,000 litres of cooked diesel, while the last suspect was arrested in Kaduna State for being in possession of a truck loaded with 25,000 litres of cooked diesel suspected to have been vandalized. They will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.
At this juncture, the IGP wishes to register his profound appreciation to members of the Public who availed actionable intelligence that were instrumental to this huge success.
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