Two Pipeline Vandals Sentence to 12 Years Imprisonment

• Two Pipeline Vandals Sentence to 12 Years Imprisonment

The rising number of pipeline vandalism across the nation has prompt security agencies to beef up security around pipelines.

Two vandals were arrested and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by the Federal High Court, Ibadan for stealing 60 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit(PMS).

Yemi Oluwalogbon and Iskilu Sodipo were sentenced by Justice P.I Ajoku.

Justice Ajoku said: “This judgment is in consideration of the fact that the convicts pleaded guilty to the three-count charge instituted against them, as well as the prayer of their counsel.

“I have also considered the fact that the convicts are young and could still be positively useful to the Nigerian society.

“It is my belief that they are now remorseful of their action. However, each of the two convicts is sentenced to two years in prison for each of the offences.”

In May, the Nigerian Navy said the nation lost N163.17 billion in oil revenue to the activities of pipeline vandals in five years.

It said 637 illegal refineries, 274,661 barrels of crude oil, and 23,560,255 litres of Premium Moto Spirit were destroyed in 2017.

Rear Admiral Bee Ibe-Enwo, who gave the statistics, said: “The Navy carries out surveillance of Nigeria’s maritime space using the Regional and Maritime Awareness Capability and Falcon Eye facilities in addition to the use of vessels and helicopters. The Navy has 24 Maritime Domain Awareness sites located across the coastline in Badagry, Lagos, Igbokoda, Abuja, Formoso, Forcados, Escravos, Brass, Yenagoa, Bonny, Iko, Ibaka, and Calabar.

“The clear warning to criminals is that activities at sea are being observed by high tech surveillance systems from ashore and they will be interdicted promptly.”

“Report estimated the total product losses due to pipeline vandalism at N21.48bn, N38.88bn, N44.75bn and N51.28bn in 2012, 2013, 2014.”