Police Nab Suspected Oil Thieves In Ondo

The police, in collaboration with the Ondo State chapter of the Association of Refineries Petroleum Marketers (ARPM), has arrested a notorious gang that specialises in stealing and distributing stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in the state.

National Chairman of ANRPM Taskforce, Eshanekpe Israel, a.k.a. Akpodoro, in a statement, said the suspects were intercepted with three fully-loaded Toyota Sequia SUVs along Irele-Ore Road from the coastal areas on the way to their market.

State Chairman of ANRPM, Kehinde Olabisi Rabiat, who coordinated the operation, said the security team acted on credible intelligence.

She noted that Igbokoda and other riverine areas of the state were flashpoints for the illicit acts by petroleum marketers, who she accused of vandalism, products adulteration and marketing.

Rabiat said her team was committed to the war against sundry crimes in the downstream sector, warning that community leaders who connive with criminals to sabotage the Nigerian oil wealth will not be spared.

She commended the police command, led by Oyediran Oyeyemi, for rising to the occasion.

Three SUVs used for the criminal operations and the contents have been impounded by the Ore Divisional Police Headquarters for further investigation, while the drivers are in custody as the investigation continues towards making more arrests.

Oyeyemi, who noted that economic sabotage was a serious offence, stressed that Ondo was not a harbinger of criminals.

He said the police under his command would make the state unattractive for would-be criminals, adding that the war on pipeline vandalism was total.