Two pastors, 28 others nabbed over pipeline vandalism

LAGOS — THIRTY suspected pipeline vandals,
among them, two pastors and two teenagers
were, weekend, arrested by officials of the
Ogun State command of the Nigerian Security
and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Isheri
Olofin area of the state.
The suspects, according to the Commandant,
Mr Akinwande Aboluwoye, were arrested after
a shoot-out.
Recovered from the suspects, according to
Aboluwoye, were canoes and 400 50-litre
jerricans filled with siphoned petroleum
product.
Parading the suspects, among whom were six
women, the commandant explained that the
feat was achieved following a tip off.
He said: “Immediately they sighted us, they
opened fire, thereby leading to a gun battle.
But when it became apparent that the heat was
too much for them, they abandoned the
products and jumped into the river and
escaped. However, we were able to arrest their
accomplices who reside in the area. We set the
recovered canoes ablaze while surveillance has
been intensified in that area.”.
However, when the teenagers, Michael
Oyedotun(13) and Azeez Ajani(12) were
quizzed, they denied their involvment, saying
they are apprentices in a tailoring workshop in
the area.
While Oyedotun claimed he was arrested while
taking his bath at the Ogun River, Azeez
admitted seeing jerricans around the area any
time he wakes up.
On his part, one of the pastors who identified
himself as Nikuleyi Adesola, claimed he was
arrested in the company of two female
members of his church.
According to him, “I live in the church. I was
with two of my members when NSCDC officials
ordered us to come out. I do not know
anything about the recovered jerricans or
activities of vandals.”
Meanwhile, the commandant has said the
suspects would be charged to court soon.