The Badagry Division of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, has raided the hideouts of suspected vandals and recovered 70 kegs (25 litres each) of petrol and other items.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, SC Oluwaseun Abolurin on Thursday.
According to the statement, the operation was carried out at 4:50 p.m. on Monday during a routine surveillance and patrol, following credible and actionable intelligence from residents of Badagry.
The Command noted that it directed its personnel to prevent the already organised attempt by “unscrupulous elements” to illegally transport petroleum products to neighbouring countries bordering Badagry.
The items recovered by the patrol team, led by Chief Superintendent of Corps Ekunola Gbenga, include 70 yellow 25-litre kegs of petrol, one 15-litre keg, one 10-litre keg and six 5-litre kegs.
Others are 250 large plastic bottles, 70 small plastic bottles, 3 small sacks containing petrol, 1 motorcycle seat, and 1 tank.
Speaking on the seizure, the Lagos State NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Adedotun Keshinro, commended the personnel for their bravery and reiterated his zero tolerance approach towards oil pipeline vandalism, syphoning of oil products and other forms of economic sabotage by unscrupulous elements in the state.
Keshinro said that the seizure aligns with the unflinching efforts of the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to rid the nation of economic saboteurs, vandals and oil thieves hampering the wheel of progress in the downstream sector of the nation’s economy.
He emphasised that the Command has beefed up its intelligence and operational strategies to respond to the disturbing activities of elements who may attempt to exhibit their desperation for illicit money at all costs, including carrying out unpatriotic and dastardly acts that could jeopardise the good and developmental policies of government on the nation’s economy, especially with the Salah celebration approaching.
“Investigation into the matter is ongoing as the Lagos State Commandant has directed, the relevant department to take necessary actions and ensure that the fleeing culprits are apprehended and brought to book in the short possible time,” the statement added.
