THIRTY suspected pipeline vandals, among them, two pastors and two
teenagers were, weekend, arrested by officials of the Ogun State
command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in
Isheri Olofin area of the state.
The suspects, according to the Commandant, Mr Akinwande Aboluwoye,
were arrested after a shoot-out.
Recovered from the suspects, according to Aboluwoye, were canoes and
400 50-litre jerricans filled with siphoned petroleum product.
Parading the suspects, among whom were six women, thecommandant
explained that the feat was achieved following a tip off.
He said: "Immediately they sighted us, they opened fire, thereby
leading to a gun battle. But when it became apparent that the heat was
too much for them, they abandoned the products and jumped into the
river and escaped. However, we were able to arrest their accomplices
who reside in the area. We set the recovered canoes ablaze while
surveillance has been intensified in that area.".
However, when the teenagers, Michael Oyedotun(13) and Azeez Ajani(12)
were quizzed, they denied their involvment, saying they are
apprentices in a tailoring workshop in the area.
While Oyedotun claimed he was arrested while taking his bath at the
Ogun River, Azeez admitted seeing jerricans around the area any time
he wakes up.
On his part, one of the pastors who identified himself asNikuleyi
Adesola, claimed he was arrested in the companyof two female members
of his church.
According to him, "I live in the church. I was with two ofmy members
when NSCDC officials ordered us to come out. I do not know anything
about the recovered jerricans or activities of vandals."
Meanwhile, the commandant has said the suspects wouldbe charged to court soon.
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