The Inspector-General of Police Special Task force on Pipeline Vandalism, Lagos Zone, on Sunday night arrested 10 suspected oil pipeline vandals and recovered 800 jerry cans at Elepete, Arepo in Ogun.
An Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the task force, Mr Friday Ibadin, paraded the suspects and displayed the items before journalists, at Arepo on Monday.
He said that suspects were arrested at about 9p.m., and that the 50-litre jerry cans were empty.
Ibadin said that policemen led by the Zonal Commander, DSP Osayande Onaghise, had been trailing the suspects.
“We got reports that the gang had been operating on NNPC pipelines in the area.
“The zonal commander laid ambush against them.
“Items recovered from them include 800 (50-litre) empty jerry cans with which they attempted to siphon the product, three bags of detergent, three big boats and items used in breaking pipelines.
“Some of the suspects claimed they were invited to carry the jerry cans with products to designated places, while some claimed that their duties were to load the products into the boats.
“They claimed they were promised various amounts of money. They will be charged to court as soon as investigation are concluded,’’ Ibadin said.
The suspects have been transferred to the Police Headquarters Annex, Moloney, Obalende, Lagos.
