Officers of the Inspector General of Police Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism have arrested a self-styled politician, Wahab Junaid, for vandalizing a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation pipeline in the Obafemi/ Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. The culprit confessed that he went into the act to raise money that will enable him contest for an office in the 2015 general elections.
The Officer-in-Charge of the task force, ACP Friday Ibadin, disclosed that Junaid, better known as ‘Doctor’, was one of the unit’s most-wanted pipeline vandals and explained that he was arrested at Ifote village in the local council.
It was gathered that the Vandal had in the past been arrested and arraigned three times, but was in all occasions discharged and acquitted. The 59-year-old ‘Doctor’ said he went back to vandalism in order to raise money to vie for political position in 2015.
Hear him, “After I regained my freedom in 2012, I stopped anything that has to do with pipeline vandalism.
“I am an active member of a political party in this state (Lagos). So, when the slot for the House of Representatives was zoned to my area, my people nominated me to represent them. Since I know that I had a good chance of winning the election, I accepted. I was told to go and look for money to sponsor my campaigns.
“In the course of looking for funds, a friend of mine, Oloje, who is also a vandal, informed me that the area was calm, and that I could come and lift some fuel and get money for my political ambition.
“I was waiting with my tankers to lift the product when policemen arrested me. My enemies, who are bitter that I was anointed for the political position, betrayed me. Please forgive me and give me another chance. I am sorry and I promise that as soon as I am elected, I will assist the police in the war against pipeline vandalism.”
Junaid, who claimed to be veterinary doctor, said he was first arrested and arraigned in court in 2008. He explained that a full tanker could be bought for N1.5 million from vandals and sold for the sum of N3 million.
He said, “I was discharged and acquitted in 2010. I was also arrested at Epe in 2010 and after several months, I regained my freedom again. The third time was in 2012, when policemen from FESTAC division arrested and arraigned me in court. I was able to secure my freedom yet again.”
The leader of the task force boss disclosed that after his latest acquittal, the unit got a tip-off that Junaid had returned to bursting pipelines and had successfully moved several truck of petrol from pipelines in Lagos and Ogun states.
Ibadin said, “On September 15, 2014, detectives acted on an intelligence report that Junaid was back and currently operating with his boys at Ogere. Detectives, led by Ogere Sector Commander, ASP Shakwallo Philemon, stormed the area, arrested him and also recovered three big valves already mounted on NNPC right of way. This is the fourth time Junaid will be arrested by the police.
“We are still on the trail of his accomplices who managed to escape. We will again take him to court and we hope that he will get what he deserves this time around.”
Meanwhile, the task force had, in a related development, busted an illegal local refinery at Osara, near Lokoja in Kogi state. The owners were said to have fled as soon as they sighted the policemen.
Ibadin stated that members of the task force were still combing the village in search of those who constructed the refinery.
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