12-Year-Old, Others Arrested For Pipeline Vandalism

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has
arrested 30 people for alleged pipeline vandalism
in Isheri Olofin area of Ogun State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects were
arrested on Saturday morning after a combined
team of NSCDC officials from the Lagos and
Ogun state commands engaged in a gun duel
with some pipeline vandals.
Among those arrested are a 12-year-old boy,
Azeez Ajani; a 13-year-old boy, Michael
Oyedotun, two pastors, six women and 20 others.
The Commandant, Ogun State Command, Mr.
Akinwande Aboluwoye, said over 20,000 litres of
stolen fuel were recovered from the vandals.
He said, "We got a tip-off that the vandals were
going to operate early on Saturday morning, so
we intensified surveillance. They were arrested
with their canoes and 400 jerry cans of petrol,
each jerry can contained 50 litres.
"The vandals had engaged us in a gun duel and
when the heat became too much, they abandoned
the products, jumped into the water and escaped.
However, we were able to apprehend their
cohorts who live in the area."
Aboluwoye said the canoes had been set ablaze
while security had been beefed up in the area.
A resident, who spoke to our correspondent on
the condition of anonymity, said the suspects
carried out pipeline vandalism in an organised
fashion.
She said, "The men usually come at midnight to
break pipelines. The children assist them in
loading the petrol into kegs, which are later kept
inside the houses of residents. The role of the
women is to source for buyers who usually come
during the day to buy the fuel at cheap prices.
"When I realised this trend, I quickly informed the
NSCDC to avert a fire disaster."
The suspects, however, denied the allegations,
saying they were not pipeline vandals, but new
residents of the area.
The 12-year-old suspect said, "I am a tailor's
apprentice in the area. My father is late and my
mother lives in Ajah. I don't know anything about
pipeline vandalism. I leave home very early
everyday and I come in late at night so I never
know what is happening in the area.
"The only thing I know is that when I wake up in
the morning, I usually see jerry cans in the area."
The 13-year-old suspect, who also claimed to be
a tailor's apprentice, said he was about to bathe
in the Ogun River when he was apprehended by
the NSCDC officials.
"My parents live in Ifo, I only moved to the area
recently. Please, I know nothing about this. My
parents don't even know that I have been
arrested."
A pastor, Nikuleyi Adesola, said he was arrested
while leaving church with two other female
members.
"I am a carpenter and also a pastor. I live in a
mission house. I was with two female members
when the civil defence men order us to come out.
I am not a vandal," he said.
The commandant said the suspects would be
charged to court, adding that past investigations
had shown that women and children were also
involved in the illegitimate business.