Enugu: Police Nab Leader Of Petrol Pipe Line Vandals

By IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu

Enugu state police command has arrested a suspected petroleum pipeline vandal and owner/driver of the truck used in siphoning the product.

The suspect, whose name was given as Okechukwu Okeke from Umuhu in Awgu council Area of the Government Area of Enugu state was nabbed by operatives of the Aninri Division of the state command .

Ebere Amarizu, the state police public Relations officer, PPRO, who made this known to AFRICAN EXAMINER on Sunday, said: “the suspect was arrested on wednesday 30/12/15.

He disclosed that “the suspect alongside others now at large had allegedly stormed Umurah Ndeaboh bush on 24/12/15 at about 12 midnight in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu state where petroleum pipeline is said to have passed with their pipeline drilling equipment.”

“They also stormed the place with two pumping machines, pipeline sealants, generator, some spanners and with a leyland 13,800 litres truck with registration number XF 312 PHC and had already started siphoning product into their waiting truck kept at a very long distance out of the vandalized area before the eagle eyed operatives acting on a tip off closed them up.

The hoodlums according to the PPRO, who “had sensed that danger was knocking against them, took to their heels that midnight, but the operatives had to recover their half-filled truck with AGO otherwise known as diesel as well as their implements and followed up search which led to the arrest of Okechukwu Okeke.

On interrogation, the 28 year old suspect, said he resides in Alese, Eleme by Port Harcourt Refinery Road in Rivers state.

He told the police that the truck which they used for the unholy operation belongs to him.

The PPRO, said a full scale investigations have commenced by the operatives of the Anti Vandalization Unit of the State criminal intelligence and Investigations Department of the command with a view to unmasking those behind the illicit incident.