Federal Government on Monday discovered an illegal bunkering site at Robert- Victor village, popularly called “Idi Mango’’ on the offshore of Lagos, where petroleum products were allegedly been stolen.
Eight suspected vandals were arrested by the private pipelines surveillance security, saddled by Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to monitor and patrol pipelines.
Ibe Kachikwu, minister of State for Petroleum Resources, expressed shocked during his visit to the place, saying what we saw here was very frustrating.
Kachikwu said that in line with the directives of Mr President to ensure zero tolerance against crude oil theft and pipeline vandals, the measures put in place had started achieving positive results.
According to him, these are notorious members of a gang engaging in pipeline vandalism and product theft along the pipeline axis need to be brought to book.
“We hope that those apprehended will soon be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent for others to desist from these nefarious activities.”
“It has sent big signals in terms of the battles we are facing. The more program and model brought to curb pipelines vandals, the better technology often deployed by vandals.
The minister added that the activity of vandals in the community is massive product siphoning from the network which range to about 200 to 300 truck.
He said that the product siphoned was been exported to neiboghring countries like Ghana, Togo and Benin.
“We are going back to the office to design another method in addressing such vandalism the country.
“The oil theft vandals were discovered with the help of the security contractors and PPMC personalities.
“A lot more effort will be deployed to secure the pipeline; the solution is long term solution to address the challenges.
Aminu Joshua, Operation Manager, a Leader of the pipelines surveillance group appealed to government for more support to track down more vandals.
Joshua said that oil theft has been the major occupation of the community, adding that over 15,000 jerrycan was seized while about 1,000 jeerycan was full with petrol.
He urged government to appeal to the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps to desist from threatening his boys.
“All the arrest we made had been handed over to the Navy officials.
” We need more support from government to unveil more illegal oil theft and pipeline vandals,’’ he said.
Three Nigerians, three Ghanaians, one Togolese and Benin were arrested at the scene.
Confiscated from the vandals were 20 vehicles, with over thousands of jerry cans filled with petroleum products, equipment and several generators.
The suspected vandals have been taken into custody at the Nigerian Naval Base, Western Command, Apapa and are awaiting further interrogation.
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