How electrician set up workshop on pipeline to siphon fuel
A 29-year-old generator repairer, Rasak Oyakunle, whom the police described as the mastermind of the pipeline fire that occurred at Abule Egba in Lagos in December 2018, has been arrested. The police said that the suspect was arrested at his hideout at Aboru, Alimosho Local Government. A huge fire outbreak had occurred at the Isopako […]
From left: 29-year-old electrician, Rasaq Oyakunle; Kazeem a.k.a Aladija 50; and Saheed Isiola a.k.a Obama 36, being paraded by the police for allegedly causing the Abule -Egba pipeline fire.
A 29-year-old generator repairer, Rasak Oyakunle, whom the police described as the mastermind of the pipeline fire that occurred at Abule Egba in Lagos in December 2018, has been arrested.
The police said that the suspect was arrested at his hideout at Aboru, Alimosho Local Government.
A huge fire outbreak had occurred at the Isopako Awori area of Abule Egba on December 18, 2018 in which over 100 houses and shops and 77 vehicles were destroyed.
The police said that Oyakunle’s arrest led to the arrest of four other suspected members of the syndicate. They are Abdulazeez Agbola, alias Giggy, 29; Akin Ayansola, alias Babalati, 44; Kazeem Aladija, 50, and Saheed Isiola, alias Obama, 36.
According to the police, Oyakunle admitted in his confessional statement that he sited his workshop on a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) deliberately to siphon petroleum products.
He was also said to have admitted that they had been in the business of stealing petroleum products from broken pipelines for many years.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, who briefed the press yesterday on the outcome of investigation by the command, said that the police discovered that the fire emanated from a NNPC pipeline that was deliberately ruptured by vandals in their bid to siphon petrol from the broken pipe.
He said, “Detectives mobilized to the scene and picked up some pieces of evidence for analysis, which led to the arrest of Rasaq. During interrogation, he confessed committing the crime. He further revealed that he owned an electric generator repairing workshop situated right on the spot where the ruptured pipeline was laid. He said that the location of the workshop on the petroleum pipeline was to enable them siphon fuel undetected. His partners in the business are also in police custody.”
Edgal also disclosed that arrested along with the five suspects is one Adedipe Dauda Ewenla, 40, who the police boss said had been on the police wanted list as a result of the incident.