The Anti-pipeline Vandalism Joint Task Force (JTF), Wednesday paraded some suspects, who ingeniously used waste disposal truck to cart away stolen products from vandalised Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines.
THISDAY gathered that the vandals had ingeniously used the waste disposal truck to cart the stolen products away, thus evading and beating security checks all the time.
In an operation Codenamed Operation Awatse, an Hausa word for sweeping, the JTF was tasked with the responsibility of protecting the NNPC pipelines from Atlas Cove to Mosimi Depot.
In line with that mandate, the JTF, comprising the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), had unearthed a massive pipeline vandalism syndicate at the Wawa area of Arepo.
The syndicate had vandalised one of the NNPC pipelines and connected a pipe to the vandalised pipeline, which enabled them access the products and put them in containers for sale.
Acting on a tip off, the JTF had stormed the area and caught the vandals in the act as they tried to cart away the stolen products in three minivans and the waste disposal truck belonging to one Ganiu Ventures.
The security operatives were engaged in a gun duel by the vandals before they overpowered them and arrested five of the suspects, while others fled.
The suspects were identified as Afeez Isiaka, Nurudeen Fatai, Oladele Godfrey, Ogbonna Agbo and Kayode Ademola.
The JTF also recovered two Dane guns with 23 live ammunition, 23 vehicles and cars, and nine motorcycles.
The recovered cars were Toyota Camry, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Corolla, Peugeot Wagon, Ford bus, with registration numbers Ex487ABC, EX957GGE, CW477LND, DC556FST and FKJ396XP, respectively.
Others are Mercedes Benz bus, Toyota Avalon, Renault bus and Mercedes Benz bus with registration numbers YA39AKD, BD875AKD, EPE954XA and XC481ABC respectively.
Also recovered were Toyota Hiace bus, Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Volkswagen Transporter, Toyota Camry, with registration numbers SMK615XC, MUS227DA, GGE546DP, XZ04GGE and KTU262DE respectively.
A Vanagon bus, Peugeot Turbod, Nissan Quest and Mitsubishi SUV with registration numbers AAA625XL, SMK634BA, FKJ489XP, HW537AAA, CX2444LSR, respectively, were also recovered.
Other recovered vehicles were a red Ford bus and Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes 108 CDI and an orange refuse disposal truck, but they had no registration numbers.
While the naval component of the task force was led by Captain Chinda Yahaya, that of the army and NSCDC was led by Lieutenant Colonel Julius Ogbobe, who is the Land Component Commander, and the anti-pipeline coordinator, Adeboye Adeyinka, an Assistant Commandant, respectively.
The Maritime Component Commander of the JTF, Navy Captain Yahaya, said the mandate of Operation Awatse is to dominate, protect and secure NNPC pipelines from Atlas Cove Terminal to Mosimi Depot.
He said, "Our troops were deployed for patrol on Sunday, January 10, based on intelligence report about the activities of vandals at Wawa area.
"The patrol team arrived the area and on approaching, the vandals opened fire against the troops and this led to an exchange of gunfire between our troops and the vandals".
"We however overwhelmed the vandals and arrested five men with two Dane guns and 23 live cartridges, while others escaped through the forests.
"Additionally, 23 different types of vehicles and nine motorcycles were arrested and several containers filled with stolen products, as well as empty containers were equally secured."
The Commander 9Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Bulama Biu, said the army provided support for the operation and thus ensured the success of the exercise.
He said, "The army dominates this place on foot patrol to ensure that the area is kept safe and it let to the success of this present arrests.
"There is a renewed vigour in this fight against pipeline vandalism and I can assure you that we there will be no hiding place for these vandals."
Also, the Commandant NSCDC Lagos State Command, Gabriel Abafi said, "It's a joint task force and we are all working for the same Federal Government.
"This is one of the things bugging the economy of the country and as this is done, investigation and prosecution will commence immediately.
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