NSCDC raids ‘oil wells’ in Lagos, arrests eight

The Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps has sealed up two houses that have wells, which are supplying suspected stolen fuel instead of water.

 Eight persons have been arrested in connection with the incident at Animatu Ilo Street, Ejigbo, Lagos State.

It was learnt that the suspects, who were also the house owners, dug their wells to the level of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation pipelines which runs through a section of the Ejigbo area.

The suspects were said to have made their own connection to the pipelines so that some of the fuel running through them would divert into the boreholes.

The affected houses numbers 17 and 30 of the street, officials of the NSCDC and the Nigerian Army had cordoned off the scene.

At the building on number 30, when an official of the NSCDC attempted to draw some water out of the well, he drew petrol instead.

It was the same situation at number 17 where another well existed which supplied fuel instead of fuel. A large number of jerry cans filled with fuel littered the compound.

It was learnt that the occupants of the house were caught unawares in the middle of their illegal business by NSCDC raid.

The suspects, however, denied that they were involved in any fuel theft.

One of them, Mrs. Funke Ogunba, who claimed to have lived in House 30 for eight years, said the leakage of fuel into the borehole was a recent development.

The pregnant mother of three, confirmed that she lived in the house with her children and husband who was away on business.

Ogunba said, “For many years, we have pumped water from that well. It was only months ago that we discovered that fuel was leaking into our water. Immediately, my husband and I noticed this, we reported the incident to the Ejigbo Police Division and to some NNPC officials. They came twice to our house with a tanker to empty the borehole.

“They told us that they would be back on Monday (today) to check if there was still fuel. They said if there was any fuel, they would fill up the borehole with sand and dig another one for us.”

The owner of House 17, identified simply as Mr. Aromasogo, 60, who was arrested with his wife and three children, claimed that he bought the house about six years ago from its original owner with the well already there.

He said, “I didn’t dig that well; it was purchased along with the house. All the while, we have pumped water from it until a few years ago when we noticed that it pumped sand during the dry season. That was when we locked the well up and dug a borehole.

“Last Thursday, I discovered there was fuel in the well. I reported to the Ejigbo Police Division and they came with some NNPC officials. We were told they would seal the well up on Monday (today).

“ A lot of houses in Animatu Ilo have fuel in their well instead of water. The landlords association has complained many times to the NNPC. I did not know that I was affected. I have never sold fuel to anyone.”

But the Lagos State NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Adesuyi Dayo, said the suspects explanations were after-thought.

He said, “We embarked on the operation after several days of surveillance. Although two houses have been sealed up for now, we believe that more houses in this area are involved. The landlords here are just busy stealing fuel and sabotaging our economy.”

The Commander 9th Brigade, Brigadier General Adeniyi Oyebade, said the army would continue to support NSCDC to rid the country of oil thieves.