Civil Defence Corps arrests 2 suspected vandals, recovers vehicles

The Ogun Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested two members of a syndicate which specialises in pipeline vandalism‎ on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The command also recovered a total of nine vehicles and seven motorcycles from the suspects as well as 3,000 jerry cans in an operation at Oluwo-Ifote village in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.

The state NSCDC Commandant, Akinwande Aboluwoye, who conducted reporters on an on-the-spot assessment of the vandalised pipeline on Saturday, said the corps raided the forest in the early hours of Friday.

The two male suspects were aged 33 and 21.

It was gathered that other members of the syndicate fled when NSCDC operatives stormed a thick forest in Oluwo-Ifote where fuel was being scooped from a vandalised NNPC pipeline.

Aboluwoye said that some of the jerry cans as well as drums had been loaded with Premium Motor Spirit and were awaiting transportation out of the site when operatives swooped on the suspects.

The commandant said efforts would be made to apprehend the fleeing suspects, adding that those arrested would be charged to court on conclusion of investigation.

He disclosed further that the NSCDC would notify the NNPC authorities on the need to urgently fix the ruptured pipeline to avert disaster in the area.

‎Aboluwoye warned pipeline vandals to desist from the illegal activity, saying the NSCDC would not hesitate in bringing them to justice.