Suspected vandals nabbed with N3.5m truckload of fuel
Three suspected pipeline vandals have been arrested in Ilorin, Kwara State, by the anti-vandalism unit of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, Ilorin chapter.
The chapter IPMAN Chairman, Alhaji Rasheed Olopade, told journalists at the NNPC Oke-Oyi depot in Ilorin on Sunday that one of the suspects, Lekan Oladepo, and another, identified simply as Badmus, were arrested at the scene of the alleged crime at Pele/Araromi Road in Ogbomosho by the security outfit of IPMAN.
He explained that the two suspects were arrested with a full tanker-load of petrol, while other suspects escaped.
He added that the third apprehended suspect, Mr. Muritala Jimoh, was the owner of the tanker used for the illicit venture.
According to him, the petrol, which was loaded in the tanker with number plate, XE 431 LSD, was valued at N3.5m.
The IPMAN boss, whose depot serves six states of Kogi, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti and Kwara, decried the activities of vandals, saying they had inflicted huge financial losses on their business, and had also caused fuel scarcity in the area.
Olopade said, "Some security men alerted us and on getting there we met them in the act.
"They brought two vehicles, but one escaped narrowly. The bigger truck belongs to the man in white (Jimoh). We don't know how long they have been in the act. We were just called by our intelligence network and we got them apprehended.
"The vandals sell the petroleum product at ridiculous amount of money since it was stolen. We sell 33,000 litres of petro at N3.5m, while they give it out at N2m."
Jimoh denied involvement in the illicit business.
He said, "The vehicle belongs to me and this is my driver. He just called me around 5am that they were attacked on the way by some armed robbers who shot at the vehicle at Odo-Oba. Meanwhile, I sent them to Ibadan. I was surprised they said robbers attacked them. I went there to meet them and on getting there, I was told not to move and I was arrested. That is all I know. I never sent them, though he is my driver."
Badmus and Oladepo also claimed that Jimoh was unaware of the deal.
Badmus, who was the driver of the truck, claimed that some people called them to convey fuel for them from Ibadan. He stated that on their way, their clients compelled them to follow them to a particular place.
"They compelled us to go to Odo-Oba. That was how we went there to load the fuel. One Alhaji Moshood was the one who called us for the work. I don't even know where he stays.
"The people promised to pay N300,000 though we were unable to fill up the tanker before being caught. We did not tell our boss (Jimoh) about it," he said
Oladepo, who is a motorboy to Badmus said he was directed by Badmus to enter the vehicle as he claimed that they had work to do.
He said, "Since he (Badmus) is my boss I have no option than to follow him."
The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olufemi Fabode, said the three suspects were brought to the State Criminal Investigation Department. He added that the police had commenced investigation into the matter.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Seni Saraki Read With Me Iyabo Dupe Adekeye Abdulazeez Arowona Bio Ibrahim Emir Of Kano Olaosebikan Ilorin International Airport Ilorin South Ramadan Anilelerin State Bureau Of Internal Revenue Kwara State Pension Board Kwara Liberation Group Yahaya Oloriegbe United Nigeria Congress Party Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa NIPR Offorjama FERMA Arandun Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan Umar Ahmed Gunu Balogun Gambari Jumoke F. Ajao Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade KWAFFA JUSUN Sheikh Ridhwanullah Akume Maja Iliasu Basit Olatunji REO CAKES Wahab Isa Flights To Ilorin Yoonus Lawal Moses Rahman Popoola Lola Olabayo Olatinwo Suwa-Arabs Quran Sanitation Exercise Asa LGEA School Ahmad Ali Usman Rifun Buari Edun Lafiagi Olota Of Odo-Owa Funmilayo Braithwaite Abubakar Baba Olatunji Abdulmumeen Saidu Isa Ibrahim Abiodun Oasis Muslim Care Foundation General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Lateef Ademola Olatunji Ahmed Idris Mohammed Hamza Usman Forgo Battery College Of Health Bankole Omisore Salman Suleiman Oba Of Jebba Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum Bello John Olanrewaju Femi Oladiji Rashidi Yekini Sidikat Akaje Bareke Ahmed Dankaya Olokoba Abdullahi Ayinla Idowu Laro Sarakite Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa Joana Nnazua Kolo Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi

