The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Bayelsa State Command, has arrested five suspected vandals of pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company in the state.
The suspects were arrested in Akimoni, Taylor Creek area of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state on Monday.
It was learnt that the suspects were arrested by the anti-Vandals operatives of the NSCDC based on intelligence tip-off by community folks.
The Commandant, NSCDC, Bayelsa Command, Mr. Desmond Agu, while parading the suspects at the state headquarters of the corps, said they were apprehended during a surveillance by his operatives.
Agu said the suspects burst pipeline belonging to Agip in Taylor Creek and abandoned their community.
He, however, said luck ran out on them when operatives of the corps swooped on the community on the day they were returning and based on tip-off they were apprehended.
He said the arrested suspects would soon be taken to court for prosecution.
He urged the youth in the state to shun pipeline vandalism and other criminal acts, saying that the operatives were fully armed to rout out criminals from their hideouts.
Giving further insight into how the suspects were apprehended, the Unit Commander, Anti-Vandals, Chief Superintendent Okeke Ejike, said the five suspects were apprehended based on useful intelligence tips.
Ejike said, “The five suspects were apprehended after the pipeline belonging to Agip was vandalised. As soon as we got the information, we swung into action.
“Immediately they perpetrated the act, they (suspects) bolted away. So, we placed them on surveillance. On the day of operation, we went to the community and disguised. As they were returning to the community and based on tip-off, we picked them up.”
He urged members of the public to always volunteer useful information that would help the corps to rid the state of the menace of pipeline vandalism and other criminal acts.
In a related development, the NSCDC impounded a Sport Utility Vehicle stuffed with over 2,500 litres of illegally refined diesel wrapped in cellophane bags.
The vehicle used in conveying the illegal products was abandoned in Nembe area of the state when the suspects sighted operatives of the corps.
The suspects were said to have run into the bush in order to escape arrest.
Shedding light on the use of cellophane bags to steal crude oil products, Agu said it was another strategy that had been perfected by oil thieves .
He stated, “It is their own improvement strategies bearing in mind that if they used drums, the vehicle would not be able to accommodate them. So, by the time they used cellophane and pack them well, they will succeed in carrying large quantities. If they tell you the amount of illegal products stuck in the vehicle, you will be amazed.
“If you place them in drums, there will be much. A drum contains about 250 litres.”
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