A private pipeline surveillance security saddled by Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to monitor and patrol pipelines along the system 2B on Tuesday uncovered an illegal bunkering site in Ogere Water Works, a suburb of Ogun State.
Topline Leighton Ltd arrested five vandals and uncovered over 20 million litres of petroleum products.
Adetona Adigun, Security Coordinator of the firm disclosed that they were saddled with the responsibility of monitoring system 2B products pipelines from Atlas Cove to Mosimi and South West region.
According to him, since we assumed the surveillance of the pipelines we have made series of arrest and discoveries.
“We have made a landmark, which nobody has made, here at Ogere Water Work in Ogun State. Over 2,000 jerrycans full of petrol were recovered from vandals and their equipment.
“With the collaboration of other security agencies, police, Navy, civil defense corps, we are ready to match them in ensuring that our national assets is secured”, he said.
Adigun however warned vandals to desists from destroying national values, adding that, “it’s not going to be business as usual.
“We hope that those apprehended will soon be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent for others to desist from these nefarious activities.
“It has sent big signals in terms of the battles we are facing. The more programme and model brought to curb pipelines vandals, the better technology often deployed by vandals,’’ he said.
He described the criminal activities in the community as massive, said the products being siphoned from the network ranged between 300 and 400 trucks daily.
“We are going back to the office to design another method in addressing such vandalism in the country.
Mr Aminu Joshua, Operation Manager, a leader of the pipelines surveillance group, appealed to government for more support to track down more vandals.
Joshua disclosed that information about the place was uncovered yesterday during their patrol on pipelines where about three trucks was observed coming out of the bush loaded with petrol.
He said that oil theft had been the major occupation of the community, adding that more than 10,000 empty Jerry cans were seized with additional 2,000 cans loaded with petrol.
He said, “We urged NNPC and other government agencies to support the pipelines surveillance team in other to drive the Vandals away.
” Our surveillance on pipelines network had yielded good result, NNPC maintenance department no longer carry out repairs frequently like before, ” he said
“ We need more support from government to unveil more illegal oil theft and pipeline vandals,’’ Joshua said.
Not less than four vehicles, equipment and several generators recovered from the suspects were handed over for further investigation.
