Lateef and the others, Anthony Adebanjo and Ola Omosowome, were arrested by the inspector-general of Police’s Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism.
While raiding the vandals’ hideout in Agbagbotu, Ilado, the operatives found Lateef siphoning fuel from a pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation into some jerrycans.
Meanwhile, Anthony and Omosowome were arrested by the police after they drove speedboats containing jerrycans to the scene.
Speaking with journalists, Lateef confirmed that she was in the area, but denied siphoning fuel from the pipelines.
“I am not into pipeline vandalism. I was passing through the area around 12am when the police arrested me. I did not know vandals were in the area. I live in the Takwa Bay area and I was going to my house when the police arrested me,” she said.
Another suspect Anthony, who is from Igbokoda in Ondo state, said that he was a driver for the vandals. He revealed that he had been hired to transport the jerrycans to the location.
“I drive the speedboat. I don’t break pipelines. It is the vandals who usually contract me to transport petroleum products for them. I never knew it was stolen fuel. I was arrested on the Igbelejo Island while transporting some jerrycans.
“Omosowome and I were to take the jerrycans to the Agbabotu Island where they would be filled with fuel by vandals. I stay around the Apapa area. I told the police that I don’t have the names or contacts of the vandals I am working with. Their jerrycans were usually at the shore of Igbelejo Island, where we picked them up. We are not the vandals. Despite our explanations, the police would not let us go,” he said.
When contacted, Valentine Olumese, the commander of the task force, revealed that the suspects were arrested by the police following a tip-off. He said that when the vandals noticed policemen, they took to their heels. According to him, some of them escaped in speedboats, while others fled into the bushes.
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