Pipeline vandal suspect, Kabiru Akinsanya, who claimed that his gang always bribe community leaders whenever they wanted to break any pipeline has been arrested.
The suspect affirmed that his gang fills at least a hundred and fifty litres cans during each operation which fetch them over N200,000 per trip.
He said, “We sell each gallon of 50 litres for N2,000 or N2,500, depending on the demand. So far, we have broken several pipelines around the area.
“We would always go at night. During each trip, we would fill at least 100 jerry cans with fuel.”
“We would always bribe the community leaders. At times, we give them money or fuel .
“We would always inform them before coming. Most times they would even tell us when the coast is clear. That is, when policemen would not be around. And anytime we were into business, they would send some of the villagers to keep watch so as to inform us when policemen would be coming.”
Kabiru revealed that he learnt plumbing while he was jailed for two years in Kirikiri Prison and after he was released in 2010, a friend who knew about his new acquired skill invited him to join in the illicit trade.
“ When I was released, I had nothing doing. One of my friends invited me to join them in the pipeline vandalisation business. Since I learnt plumbing in prison, I was useful to them because I used the skill to burst the pipelines and weld them after operation.
“We worked together as a group and the rule was that before any job was executed, we would contribute a certain amount of money and give to the leaders of the community. They (community leaders) would not alert the police rather, they would send some young men to keep watch.
“But along the line, I left the group and formed another group of four which I was heading. I left the first group because the business was lucrative and I did not want to be under anyone.
“Members of my gang are Tunde, Segun and Sunday . But they managed to escape on the day the Police stormed our hideout.”
The suspect further stated that they were caught because a non member of his gang broke a pipeline which caused a leakage thereby attracting the attention of the police.
“But the Police succeeded in arresting us because someone who is not a member of my gang broke a pipeline and this caused leakage that attracted the Police. There is no way NNPC would have known that we tapped from their pipeline if there was no leakage,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Friday Ibadin, officer in charge of the Special Task Force on Pipeline Vandalisation who confirmed the arrest said, “We got a tip-off that vandals had resumed activities in that area. Policemen, led by Lagos Sector Commander, DSP Onaghise Osayande, were sent to the area to ensure regular patrol. It was during one of the patrol sessions that they discovered a burst pipeline. In the course of investigation, they discovered the hideouts of some of the suspected vandals. Akinsanya was arrested and he confessed to the crime.“
He however appealed to Nigerians to report activities of pipeline vandals to security operatives.
“I sincerely commend members of Takwa Bay community who assisted the police to fish out these vandals. It is no longer business as usual; the Arepo incident has caused untold hardship on Nigerians,” he concluded.
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