The Edo State Government has confirmed the arrest of six suspects involved in the theft of 30 kilometers of crude oil pipeline along the Warri-Kaduna route.
The illegal activity occurred at Ekperi in Etsako Central Local Government Area and reportedly caused severe damage to the oil infrastructure.
Chairman of the state’s Task Force on Recovery of Government Property, Eugene Okolosie, made this known in Benin City on Wednesday while reeling out recent milestones achieved by the task force. He alleged that the suspects might have conspired with some local residents to perpetrate the crime.
According to Okolosie, the suspected vandals deployed heavy machinery, including excavators, to unearth the pipelines, which are critical to transporting crude oil from Warri in Delta State to the Kaduna refinery. Some of the stolen pipes have since been retrieved from the arrested individuals.
In a separate operation, five people were apprehended in Uhuoghun, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, for dismantling and attempting to sell government-owned tractors and heavy-duty agricultural equipment.
Similarly, five others were arrested in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area, for allegedly tampering with high-tension electricity installations. The task force disclosed that all suspects are being investigated and will be prosecuted accordingly.
Okolosie expressed concern over the increasing cases of illegal land sales and encroachment on government property across the state. He said 480 hectares of government land had been recovered from individuals who sold them off fraudulently.
He cited the example of Sobe community, where government-owned forest reserves were reportedly cleared and sold. “They destroyed the Melina and teak trees planted by the government and started cultivating plantains on the land. This has been happening for eight years,” he stated.
Communities such as Ewomama were also mentioned, where public assets like markets, schools, and civic centres were sold unlawfully. Okolosie noted that the government had reclaimed those assets and would continue to recover other encroached properties.
He lamented that public school lands have not been spared from illegal acquisitions. “Anybody that attacks education is attacking the future of his community,” he warned, adding that the task force is actively reclaiming affected lands. Okolosie also cautioned residents to be wary of impostors claiming to be task force members and extorting money.
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