BUSTED: 15 suspected vandals arrested by NSCDC in Lagos

by Kolapo Olapoju

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15 suspected pipeline vandals arrested in Badagry were paraded by the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Tuesday, July 16, 2014.

Officials of the NSCDC foiled the syndicate’s attempt to smuggle about 21 litres of petroleum product in out of the country around 1am on Sunday,July 13.

However, one of the paraded suspects, Adeyemi Igbeleyi said he was a victim of betrayal, claiming that he was the informant who tipped-off the officials of the corps.

“I am not a vandal. I am a painter. I was the one who informed them that some boys were about to smuggle fuel out of the country. They promised not to implicate me if I take them to where the vandals were,” he said.

Another suspect, Fatai Npati, who is a citizen of Benin Republic, claimed to have gotten involved in the illegal act because the weather was bad for fishing.

“I did not know the actual job I was being hired to do with my boat. I got to know on our way to Nigeria, but I had to agree as I need money. I would not have yielded to the offer if it were to be the season of fishing,” the fisherman said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Donatus Ikemefuna, the NSCDC Commandant in Lagos, said the corps acted on a tip-off, while debunking Igbeleyi’s claim that he was an informant. Ikemefuna also enjoined other law enforcement agencies to work with the corps in tackling vandalism.

“All hands must be on deck in solving this ugly trend. This arrest is unusual. Most of the suspects are foreigners who had connived with their cohorts from this country. Why should we allow aliens to sabotage our economy? Relevant agencies should check the influx of foreigners migrating into the country,” he said

The 15 suspects were nationals of Nigeria, Ghana and Republic of Benin. It was learnt that the 16th person was ill and had been taken to a hospital.

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