Five suspected oil pipeline vandals were apprehended on Saturday in Edo State by officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, with two tankers containing 66,000 litres of crude oil.
The hoodlums were arrested by the Civil Defence in Benin City, the state capital, according to the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Chuka Akubuiroh.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the suspects (names withheld) were nabbed around bypass area of Benin/Warri highway following a tip-off. The suspects, who are now in custody, would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded on the matter.
Akubuiroh disclosed that the two tankers with registration number ABH 264 XA and ABS 186 XA have been impounded by the NSCDC.
He explained that, “When we got wind of their movement sometime last week, we mounted 36 hours surveillance and it yielded result; only this morning, our men were able to trap them.
“They are in our custody now and further investigation is ongoing to ascertain where and how they got the product, before they will face prosecution in the court.
“We have before now arrested vandals conveying different quantities of adulterated products in the last two months; we have arrested vandals with tankers of 33, 000 liters of crude and also arrested mini vehicles and buses with same products.
“Twenty persons were arrested in connection with this and they are yet to be charged to court because the courts are just back on session after the long industrial action.”
