By Bimbo Ogunnaike
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), Lagos State Command,in a separate operations, have arrested 15 alleged oil vandals in the state.
The suspects, three Nigerians and 12 Beninese, were arrested in Badagry waterways with products suspected to be Petroleum Motor Spirits(PMS).
The Commandant, Lagos NSCDC, Cyprian Ehi Otoibhi, confirmed the development while parading the suspects before newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to him, eight of the suspects were arrested on Friday, September 20 at Topo high sea, Badagry waterways by the men of the Marine anti-vandal unit of NSCDC, while others were arrested by men of the Nigerian Navy on Thursday, September 19 in Badagry.
Otoibhi gave the names of the suspects arrested by his command as Paul Toge (20),Jeremiah Towhome(21)Joshua Dosa(26)Seraphim Husa(21) Segun Ayoola(36), Alabi Owolabi(31)GbengaAzamesu(26) and Sunday Sanni(26).
He said three engine wooden boats and 250 kegs of 25 litres, a total of 6250 litres recovered, just as he also disclosed that in other related development, one Ogunlolu Babatunde was apprehended along Seme Road with 40 kegs of litres of product suspected to be PMS on Wednesday September 18, 2019.
Otoibhi gave the names of other suspects, all Beninese, arrested by the Navy as Peter Honaso(28),Oke Samuel(30)Sakiru Yeti(26) Alawe Sibeko (27,Joseph Mekonu(25) and Anthony Agozu(20) .
He explained that suspects arrested by the Navy were found to be in possession of 80 drums of 250 littres suspected to be PMS, adding that items recovered from them were two 50HP outboard engine, one pumping machine and one 50HP spare machine(engine)
Speaking with The Guild, one of the suspect,Agozu said their boss in Benin Republic sent them to come and buy the product in Nigeria.
“We were sent by our boss to come and buy the product in Nigeria. We came in a boat and we transact the business with a white man in Nigeria.We don’t know the name of the white man and we don’t know how much is involved in the business. Ours was just to come here and take the product to Benin,” he said.
Speaking with The Guild, Otoibhi, vowed that men of his command are battle ready 24 hours to wage serious war against oil vandals in the state, adding that people of the state should feel free to give useful information to the command of any activities of vandals in their localities.
