by Tutu Akinlabi

The Nigerian Navy Task Force in Badagry area of Lagos State has apprehended five foreigners whose specialty was illegally conveying petroleum products from pipeline vandals in Nigeria across the Seme border.

The suspects, four Beninoise teenagers and a 50-year-old Ghanaian, were caught in the act while transporting 113 50-litre jerrycans filled with petroleum products.

Parading the suspects before journalists at the weekend, Administration Officer, NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Hyacynth Nwaka, reportedly said that operatives of the Task Force at Atlas Cove, acting on a tip-off, intercepted the suspects at 3.30a.m. and brought them to the base for further investigation.

The suspects claimed they were fishermen based in Seme area of Lagos.

One of them, Andre Tougene, a secondary school student in Benin Republic, said that they were instructed by some persons to convey the product to Seme, where it would be sold to buyers for onward transportation to Benin Republic.

He claimed to have been tempted by the N4,000 payment he was to get.

The 50-year-old Ghanaian, Nabroda Ajete, said a friend of his told him to bring 30 empty jerrycans to the shore. And that he didn’t know they were going to be used to siphon petroleum products.

The suspects, according to Commander Nwaka, would be handed over to the police. He said that the fate of the one that claimed to be 15 years would be determined by the Police.