Few weeks ago, the media was awash with news of a pipeline explosion at Arepo, Ogun state, where scores of vandals were reportedly burnt to death.
The cause of the explosion which started the fire that was put out next day by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC was attributed to a scuffle between groups of vandals over ownership of a particular section of the NNPC owned pipeline, during which a shot fired by a member of the rival faction, hit the pipeline.
That incident was not the first of its kind in recent times at Arepo. Infact, that area has become a haven for criminal activities by vandals who seem to have thrown caution to the wind as they vandalise pipelines and siphon petroleum products, without fear of molestation by security agents.
Information at Vanguard’s disposal showed that these vandals who are drawn from different parts of the country could be militants in disguise . From all indications, they seem to have taken over the entire creeks at Arepo.
Vandals are animals – Olu of Arepo
The traditional rulers around Arepo and its environs have been accused of aiding and abetting activities of vandals in Arepo and Ikorodu . But the Olu of Arepo, Oba Atanda Oyebisi, dissociated himself from the accusation, condemning the last explosion in its entirety , lamenting that vandals have succeeded in tarnishing the image of the community.
