Close to 100 Roasted in Arepo, Ogun State Fuel Theft.

NOT less than 100 suspected petroleum
pipeline vandals were yesterday roasted to
death along Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) pipeline at Arepo area
in Ogun State.
Accounts say, the vandals were busy
scooping fuel gushing from damaged
pipelines when the fire suddenly started.
As at 2.30 p.m. when The Guardian
visited the area, the fire was still raging.
The area, hitherto guarded by members of
Odua People’s Congress (OPC) was said
to have been left unprotected following the
withdrawal of the OPC members by its
leadership over non-payment of their
contract fee by the Federal Government.
When The Guardian visited the scene,
some of the vandals who survived the fire
outbreak were seen battling to put out the
raging fire while others were taking away
the bodies of their colleagues burnt
beyond recognition in canoes.
The NNPC management had called in
policemen attached to the Inspector
General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase’s
Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline
Vandalism.
One of the policemen, who spoke with The
Guardian said that they were making plans
to create an access to the area, which has
been overgrown with weeds and water
hyacinth.
Policemen could not get access to the
swampy areas where the vandals were
evacuating the bodies.
“You can see that there is no tent in this
area. The one that was here was set
ablaze by vandals who attacked members
of the OPC. We were however invited by
NNPC to come and secure the area while
repairs will be done on the security post.
“More than 100 vandals were roasted in
this fire outbreak.
As you can see, we do not have a tent, no
pathway to the scene of the incident. The
best option is for helicopters to be used
to access the area or better still,
construct a road to the site,” the policeman
who sought anonymity said.
Confirming the incident, the newly posted
officer in charge of the task force,
Valentine Olumese, a Chief Superintendent
of Police (CSP) who was also at the
scene, said police have completed plans to
take over the security and protection of
the area.
“The tent that was destroyed will be
repaired and access to the scene will be
created. Our men will maintain presence.”
He also assured that pipeline vandalism
would be reduced to the barest minimum if
police presence returns to the area.
Ogun State Police Spokesman, Muyiwa
Adejobi, however, declined to speak on the
issue.