Oyo NSCDC promises tough time for vandals

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, has affirmed to tighten its operations to make the state tough for oil pipeline vandals.

Mr Shem Obafaiye, the state's commandant, said this on Monday while parading five vandals at the Iyaganku headquarters of the corps.

He said that the NSCDC will do everything humanly possible to ensure that vandals either relocate from the state or decide to stop their illicit activities.

'In pursuit of this mandate, therefore, four men were arrested on Nov. 13 with 125 empty jerry cans in a bus marked XB 357 RSD at Odo Oba, Ogbomoso South of the state.

'They were apprehended following an information tip off,' he said.

He added that another suspect was arrested at the early hours of Monday at Ajagba village, near Oyo East.

'At the time of arrest, the suspect, with others at large, had already filled a 15,000 litre truck, marked XB 734 YRA, with petrol.

'In addition, another 33,000 litre truck, marked XT 121 KSF, had also been filled with 5,000 litres when our men swept in on them overnight,' he said.

He added that the suspects would soon be charged to court after the completion of necessary investigation.

However, speaking with newsmen, one of the suspects arrested with the 125 empty jerry cans denied the allegation.

'I was even the one that informed the Civil corps that I suspected that a bus was about to be used for vandalism.

'I am, however, surprised that other suspects implicated me. I believe they are trying to punish me for suspecting I gave them away,' he said