A suspected pipeline vandal who was recently arrested by the Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, has said he succeeded in carrying out the crime by bribing community leaders.
The suspect, Kabiru Akinsanya, was arrested on Monday at Takwa Bay, Lagos, shortly after security operatives discovered a ruptured pipeline owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Akinsanya, who is also an ex-inmate of Kirikiri Prison, said, “Shortly after I was released from prison where I spent two years, my friends told me to join them in the business (pipeline vandalism). Luckily, I became so good in the business because during my stay in prison, I learnt plumbing.
“We worked together as a group and the rule is that before any job is 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 will send some young men to keep watch.”
He said before he was arrested, he and his gang members had successfully scoped over 100 gallons of 50 litres of fuel during each operation.
Akinsanya said, “We visited several pipelines in the area and the least we succeeded in collecting was about 80 gallons. Each gallon is sold for N2,000 or N2,500 depending on the market situation.
“For sometime NNPC stopped pumping and when they resumed pumping, we visited the spot and I informed my gang.
“Unfortunately, another group burst the pipeline and caused several leakages. There is no way NNPC would have known that we tapped from its pipeline.”
It was learnt that the suspect’s gang members, who he identified simply as Tunde, Segun and Sunday were able to escape.
The officer in charge of the task force, Friday Ibadin, said Akinsanya had been on the police wanted list for some time.
He said, “We got a tip-off that vandals had resumed their activities in the area. Policemen led by Lagos Sector Commander, 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. Kabiru (Akinsanya) was arrested and he confessed to the crime.
“I 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 Nigerians untold hardship.
“It has also come to our notice that some community leaders are also part of this fraud. The police will not take it lightly with a leader who harbours vandals in his territory.”
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