A 59-year-old self-acclaimed politician, Wahab Junaid, has been nabbed by officials of the Inspector General of Police Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism for reportedly damaging pipelines belonging to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Obafemi/ Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State
According to Punch report, the officer-in-charge of the task force, ACP Friday Ibadin, said Junaid, also known as Doctor, was one of the unit’s most wanted pipeline vandals.
He explained that Doctor was arrested at Ifote village in the local council.
Furthermore, it was reported that the vandal has been nabbed and prosecuted for about three times but was afterwards set free.
However, the self -acclaimed politician claimed he commenced pipeline damage in a bid to raise money to contest for a post in the 2015 general elections.
“After I regained my freedom in 2012, I stopped anything that has to do with pipeline vandalism. Junaid said.
“I am an active member of a political party in this state (Lagos). So, when the slot for the House of Representatives was zoned to my area, my people nominated me to represent them. Since I know that I had a good chance of winning the election, I accepted. I was told to go and look for money to sponsor my campaigns.
“In the course of looking for funds, a friend of mine, Oloje, who is also a vandal, informed me that the area was calm, and that I could come and lift some fuel and get money for my political ambition.
“I was waiting with my tankers to lift the product when policemen arrested me. My enemies, who are bitter that I was anointed for the political position, betrayed me. Please forgive me and give me another chance. I am sorry and I promise that as soon as I am elected, I will assist the police in the war against pipeline vandalism.”
The vandal disclosed that their clients could buy a complete tanker for 1.5 million naira and sell them for about 3 million naira.
Junaid, who claimed to be a veterinary doctor, said he was first arrested and arraigned in court in 2008.
“I was discharged and acquitted in 2010. I was also arrested at Epe in 2010 and after several months, I regained my freedom again. The third time was in 2012, when policemen from FESTAC division arrested and arraigned me in court. I was able to secure my freedom yet again.”
According to the task force officer Ibadin, they learnt that Junaid went back damaging pipelines after the last release from their custody and had so far succeeded in selling a number of trucks of petrol to clients from Lagos state.
Ibadin said, “On September 15, 2014, detectives acted on an intelligence report that Junaid was back and currently operating with his boys at Ogere. Detectives, led by Ogere Sector Commander, ASP Shakwallo Philemon, stormed the area, arrested him and also recovered three big valves already mounted on NNPC right of way. This is the fourth time Junaid will be arrested by the police.
“We are still on the trail of his accomplices who managed to escape. We will again take him to court and we hope that he will get what he deserves this time around.”
Also, in a related development, an unlawful local refinery has been discovered by the task force officers near Lokoja the Kogi state capital. However, on seeing the officials, the owners of the refinery took to their heels. So in reaction to this, Ibadin said their hands were all on deck so as to discover the brains behind the refinery.
