Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Lagos have intercepted 29,750 litres of fuel concealed in drums from suspected pipeline vandals around Oniru beach in the state.
The suspects reportedly wanted to smuggle the alleged stolen fuel into Benin Republic via the high sea when they were accosted in a big boat by the marine and anti-vandal team of the corps around 2am on Friday.
The operatives reportedly recovered 119 drums–250 litres each–containing petrol, two pumping machines and apprehended five suspects.
The spokesperson for the NSCDC in the state, Olumide Abolurin, said in a statement on Friday that the arrest was a product of renewed effort of the command, following a recent meeting with the Commandant General of the corps, Ahmed Abubakar.
He said, “Following this renewed alertness, the marine and anti-vandal team of the command, who were on routine surveillance and patrol, today, Friday, December 24, 2021, intercepted some suspected vandals who were engaging in what was suspected to be an organised cross-border smuggling activity of petroleum products from Nigeria to Benin Republic on the high sea, at the Oniru beach of Lagos State.
“The head of anti-vandal unit of the command, Adegbayibi Adebayo, an Assistant Commandant of Corps, who led the operation, further stated that five suspected vandals namely: Israel Oluwayemi, 35; Issa Quadri, 49; Matthew Ayobami, 29; Altra Suwesa, 40 and Adedoyin Elikena, 52, were arrested during the operation.
“A big boat, 119 drums loaded with suspected vandalised premium motor spirit, 38 empty drums, two pumping machines and one 60hp engine were recovered.”
Abolurin further told our correspondent that the fuel-laden drums totalled 29,750 litres, noting the product was “estimated at over N5m.”
He added, “The commandant (Eweka Okoro), has immediately ordered the intelligence department of the command to commence adequate investigation on the matter and the anti–vandal unit to immediately commence the evacuation of the suspected product and the recovered items back to the Lagos State Command headquarters in Alausa in a bid to carry out further investigation on the matter and find a lasting solution to such ugly economic sabotage in the area.”
