18th June, 2010
The police in Owutu, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria, have arrested two suspected pipeline vandals with 25 kegs of petrol.
The suspects, Lando Christopher, 20 and Felix Haruna, 18, were arrested by a police patrol team from Owutu Divisional Police Station led by Supol Amao.
However, their accomplice Shina Joseph and two escorts who dressed in army uniform escaped.
Crimewatch gathered that when the police patrol team flagged down the red bus conveying the products, the driver, Shina Joseph, refused to stop. The police pursued the vehicle and one of the tyres of the bus bust, which forced the driver to stop.
The driver jumped out and escaped along with the two escorts, while Christopher was arrested. His confessional statement led to the arrest of Haruna at his hideout, somewhere in Ketu.
Speaking with Crimewatch before they were taken to the Ikeja Police Command for further interrogation, Lando said he was once a conductor and that his former boss, Joseph, lured him into the business.
According to him, Joseph contacted him to follow him to carry some load, but he did not know it was oil business, as he (Joseph) told him he owns a canteen. Haruna, however, countered Christopher’s statement, alleging that he knew about the illegal business.
When Crimewatch contacted the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Owutu Division, CSP Okpan Monday, he declined to comment saying, “I am not in the position to speak to the press. Please go and see the police Public Relations Officer.â€
—Yusuf Muhammed