Four alleged pipeline vandals have been taken into custody by agents of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps’ Lagos State Command.
The four were allegedly trying to break the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited pipeline in Obawole, Fagba area of Lagos State.
The State Commandant of NSCDC, Adedotun Keshinro, in a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abolurin Oluwaseun, late Thursday.
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The statement revealed that on Thursday, at the Command Headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, the suspects were paraded with evidence that had been recovered from them.
Keshinro stated that the suspects were taken into custody on Wednesday as a result of reliable and useful information that forced the Command’s anti-vandalism squad to take immediate action and stop the attempted vandalism.
After receiving reliable and actionable information regarding the criminal behavior of the aforementioned elements, the Command moved quickly on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at approximately 02:45 in order to stop a vandalism attempt on the NNPCL pipes at the above-mentioned location.
The suspects’ malicious effort at vandalism was foiled by the Command team’s quick thinking, which resulted in their arrest and the recovery of certain goods from the crime site.
“The collected exhibits, including a white bus with no license plate, tools, and detained suspects from the operation, should be transferred to the State Command Headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, for additional questioning and investigation,” stated Adedotun Keshinro, the Lagos State Commandant.
He said that the suspicions will be looked into and dealt with appropriately.
“The Command is still steadfast in its mission to apprehend those responsible and stop these kinds of criminal activities from spreading throughout our neighborhoods and streets,” Keshinro declared.
According to PUNCH Online, there have been several instances of pipeline vandalism around the country over the years, resulting in the destruction of priceless infrastructure as well as the loss of life and property.
The Lagos State NSCDC Command prevented an oil pipeline explosion in November 2023 that would have destroyed property and life in Alimosho, the state.
Additionally, in July 2023, NSCDC agents reported that they had apprehended eight individuals who were allegedly trafficking pilfered petroleum items at Ajah Beach, Lagos State.