Operatives of the Lagos State Police
Command have arrested four suspected pipeline vandals in connection with
the Abule-Egba fire incident that reportedly destroyed properties worth
millions of naira on Wednesday, December 19.
The PUNCH had reported on
Thursday that the explosion was as a result of the activities of
suspected petroleum products’ thieves, who allegedly vandalised the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s pipeline in the Arowolo area
of Abule Egba, Lagos State.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations
Officer, CSP Chike Oti, in a statement on Thursday, said the prime
suspect, Adedipo Ewenla, had been declared wanted, adding that the four
arrested suspects involved in the crime had given account of how the
fire incident started.
READ ALSO: Senator counters Osinbajo, says Buhari’ll hand over to South-East in 2023
Oti said, “The Lagos State Police
Command has recorded a breakthrough in the investigation into the fire
incident that occurred on Wednesday, December 19, 2018, around 2 am at
the Abule-Egba and Agege areas of Lagos in which at least, 100 houses,
100 shops and 50 cars went up in flames, with the arrest of four
suspected pipeline vandals.
“During interrogation, the four suspects
gave vivid account of how the fire that emanated from a vandalised
petroleum pipe engulfed a fraction of Abule-Egba community and spread to
parts of Agege area, destroying properties worth millions of naira.
They also mentioned one Adedipo Ewenla as their ring leader.”