Source: This Day ( Lagos)
1 January 2006
by Segun James (Warri)
Twelve suspected pipeline vandals were killed weekend at Oghara in Delta State during a gun battle with security operatives while siphoning crude oil from pipelines belonging to the Pan Ocean Oil Corporation (PANOCO).
Also, men of the Presidential Task Force on NNPC Pipelines have arrested 22 persons in connection with last week's pipelines fire at Adeje.
In the operation which confirms that the vandals have moved their activities from the rivers and swamp locations, the 20 man gang which had mobilised with sophisticated equipment were busy siphoning crude into four trailer tanker trucks when security operatives arrived the scene.
The arrival of the security men triggered a gun battle which left 12 of the vandals dead while three others sustained gun shot wounds while five others were arrested.
THISDAY gathered that following the success of the operation, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero ordered the immediate evacuation of the arrested vandals to Abuja, including the injured three who were discharged from the Warri Central Hospital where they were receiving treatment on Sunday morning following Saturday's bloody encounter.
THISDAY gathered that in the ensuing battle with the vandals, the trucks with resgistration numbers PLATEAU AA 423 SHD, LAGOS XP772 AAA, EDO XA 472 SGB and ANAMBRA XA258 went up in flames.
Meanwhile, 22 persons arrested in connection with last Monday's pipelines explosion in Adeje are now undergoing interrogation in Warri.
Confirming the gun war and the arrest in Warri, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, Mr. Isiaka Pachiko said his men would not relent in the battle with vandals.
