The Nigeria Police Force had a break through with constant vandalization of pipelines, destruction of oil and gas infrastructure and the illegal dealing in Petroleum products in the country as they arrested 18 Pipeline Vandals, Impound 2 Vessels and 2o Trucks.
Parading eight of the suspects at the Force headquarters, on Monday, the Force PRO, DCP Don Awunah said, “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.”
He stated that in order to halt this trend of wanton destruction of lives and property in a critical sector of the economy, the IGP, Ibrahim Idris has reorganised and empowered the Anti-Pipeline Vandalization Unit of the Force to decisively tackle these criminals and their collaborators.
Among the suspects arrested include Tumbiri Ezekiel (captain), Thomas Arimoro Azamosa (Company’s Representative),
Godwil Offeh (Chief mate),Alfred Iwanefun (Engineer), Emmanuel Uyoi (Deckhand), Godwin Tabiti (Electrician), Omokete Enengite (Engineer Cadet), Victor Onyenike (Seaman), Suleiman Ahmadu and William Okitikpo.
The 10 suspects and the exhibit, which include Ellen Vessel, MB Opuda Vessel and Eighteen Trucks; are in police custody in Lagos.
The FPRO noted that on November 1 through 3, 2016 at about 0220hrs, when “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 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 18 Trucks, 33,000 liters each. The vessel, crew members, the 18 trucks and other suspects were promptly arrested and taken into custody by the IGP’s Task Force on petroleum and illegal bunkering.”
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