Despite the havoc caused by their illegal activities in Abule Egba area of Lagos on December 26, 2006, pipeline vandals have shifted base to Isheri-Olofin along LASU-Idimu Road in the outskirts of Lagos.
As a result, residents living along the pipeline in the area have cried out to President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Sunday Ehindero to act fast and save their lives before another pipeline explosion occurs in the area.
According to Daily Sun investigations, the pipeline vandals have in the last two weeks continued to burst and scoop fuel in some locations in Isheri Olofin area about half a kilometer away from Idimu Police Division.
Some NNPC officials, marketers, policemen and members of a militant group are said to have formed a cartel which oversee the illegality for commercial purposes.
At Iyana Odo, Kilometre 32 along Isheri-LASU Road, the gang of vandals were said to have burst a pipeline there two weeks ago, filled five oil tankers and went away. It was further gathered that just yesterday, while a gang was busy scooping fuel from the same spot, abou 12 fully armed policemen and some members of a militant group stood guard to ensure that there was no disturbance from any quarters.
Subsequent attempts to scoop fuel from the pipeline by the gang had however met a brickwall because, the landlords and some brave residents in the area, had formed a vigilante to keep watch on the pipeline.
When Daily Sun reporter was taken to the spot by the residents, it was found out that the burst pipeline was right inside the residential area. The hole dug by the vandals was said to have been filled by some NNPC officials who visited the place when reports were lodged with the police at Idimu and at NNPC office.
Just last week Thursday, the bunkerers made attempts again to scoop fuel in the area. They were alleged to have parked a tanker at the Isheri-Olofin/Idimu Round-About in readiness for the operation. The residents suspected foulplay and quickly reported the matter to the police who later towed away the tanker.
The State Police Commissioner, Mr Emmanuel Adebayo was said to have been alerted while he assured that immediate action would be taken to forestall the gang�s operation. The commissioner, was said to have lived to his promise when large number of police operatives in mufti, stormed the area and kept vigil, awaiting the arrival of the oil bunkerers who stayed away for fear of being arrested by the police.
A landlord in the area said that the entire people of the community are now living in fear of possible fire outbreak because of the nefarious activities of the oil bunkers. He appealed passionately to President Obasanjo, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ehindero, and the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Adebayo, to act fast, to checkmate the activities of the oil scoopers before any damage was done.
The residents want some securitymen stationed in the area mainly to keep watch over the pipelines in the nights.
Efforts to see the DPO Idimu Police station proved abortive as he was said to be out on official duties. Attempts to also get him on his GSM phone equally failed as the phone kept saying “the number has no facility to receive calls.”