Operatives
of the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force, Anti-Pipeline Vandalism
Unit, have arrested two suspected vandals believed to be responsible for last
Thursday’s explosion that led to fire outbreak at Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation, NNPC, pipeline in Ilare/Imagbon area of Ikorodu, Lagos, which left
some of the vandals dead.
The
suspects, identified as Rotanna Ifeanyi and Soji Omomoyesan, were arrested in a
herbalist’s home while receiving treatment from the burns sustained in the fire
outbreak.
Trouble,
as gathered, started for the duo after residents of the community, initially
indicted in the pipeline vandalism saga, besieged the herbalist home and
attacked the suspects, when they got wind of their presence.
They
reportedly tied them up until the arrival of the policemen.
I thought
I was dead— suspect
Explaining
how the fire was ignited, one of the suspects, Ondo State-born Soji, 40, said
it was caused by a lit cigarette.
According
to him, “Jide threw the cigarette during an argument over who would first
siphon petroleum product from the burst pipeline. Before we knew what was
happening, there was an explosion followed by a wild fire.
“We could
not escape as we were engulfed by the fire. I do not know the fate of others.
“I
thought I was dead until I opened my eyes and found myself at the herbalist’s
home. I was told I was dumped there by one of us who managed to escape.
“I was lured
into this business because I was jobless. I was informed by a friend that they
were going to siphon fuel along that route.
“He said
the services of an engineer, boat paddlers and carriers were needed. I opted
for boat paddler because I cannot lift two 50-litre jerry cans of petrol at
once.
“We got
to the place by 2am and immediately the engineers burst a portion for us to
siphon, an argument ensued.
“But for
the timely arrival of policemen at the herbalist’s place, the community would
have finished what the fire could not.
“They
tied my hands and legs and were at the verge of setting me ablaze when the
policemen arrived.”
‘I was
promised N200 per 50-litre jerry can’
Rotanna,
22, said he was lured by his best friend whose name he gave as Tony Olabanji, to
join in the shady deal.
He said:
“He told me all I needed to do was to assist the vandals and assured me that
security men had not visited the area in recent times because they thought
vandals were no longer operating there.
“The
mission would have been accomplished had the argument not ensued. This was
because on getting there, there were so many people; both the old and young,
men and women were struggling to have their turn.
“I was to
be paid N200 for each filled 50-litre jerry can moved from the point of filling
to the car. I had already taken seven jerry cans into the vehicle and was about
to lift the eighth when the fire started.”
Police
report
Assistant
Commissioner of Police in charge of the Task Force, Friday Ibadin, said; “The
vandals absconded when they realised that their game was up. But some of them
were roasted to death.
“I must
sincerely appreciate members of Imagabon community, who assisted the police in
tracking down these suspects from where they had gone for treatment.
“I
encourage other communities to do same in order to bring a permanent end to
pipeline vandalisation.”
He
informed that the police had taken the suspects to an undisclosed hospital,
where they were currently undergoing treatment, adding that they would be
arraigned in court as soon as their health stabilise.
Vanguard
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