The officer in charge of Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit, Friday Ibadin,spoke with ENIOLA AKINKUOTU on Sunday on the pipeline explosion.
What are the challenges police are facing as regards pipeline vandalism in the area?
You heard what the governor said, if we can have proper platforms as well as swamp boogies, we will be able to patrol the area effectively but because the area is swampy and there are no platforms, it is hard to police it (area).
How many suspects have you arrested so far?
We arrested three suspects; one Sunday Reuben, Bimiwe Akpasimore and a medical doctor, Odusina Adegboyega, who was conveying Reuben to a hospital for treatment.
Is there cooperation from the villagers as regards pipeline vandalism?
In Arepo, pipeline vandalism is like a family business. Reuben’s father was one of those arrested for the murder of the three officials last year while his mother actively involved in the pipeline vandalism that caused the explosion on Saturday.
What is the situation now?
Reuben died on Sunday morning at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital but Akpasimore is still at the emergency ward at the hospital and the doctor is claiming that he has no case to answer because he was honouring his Hippocratic oath but investigations are ongoing.
Will more arrests be made?
Most of the survivors have fled. When we visited the area again, we saw some bodies floating. We also recovered a camouflage jacket but we are still carrying out surveillance because some of those hoodlums may still be around.
Punch Nigeria
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