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By EVELYN USMAN LAGOS — Two Benin Republic nationals and three others have been arrested by operatives of Beecroft of the Nigerian Navy over alleged vandalism in Lagos. They were alleged to have vandalised pipeline in Makoko area of the state. Recovered from the suspects were 270 jerricans filled with siphoned petroleum products. The Benin Republic nationals, however, told Vanguard that they were fishermen, who fished in Nigeria’s waters in company of some Nigerians. [caption id="attachment_411991" align="alignnone" width="412"] The suspects[/caption] Parading the suspects before newsmen, yesterday, the Base Operations Officer, Commander Tanko Lengaya, explained that the suspects were arrested in the early hours of Saturday following a tip-off. He said: “Patrol boats were immediately deployed from Atlas Cove in the process of which the suspects were intercepted at Makoko area in two canoes loaded with 270  50-litre jerricans filled with the siphoned prod...

By Olasunkanmi Akoni LAGOS — Lagos State Government has blamed the Federal Government for its inaction and negligence over incessant cases of oil pipelines vandalism and degradation in the state. It equally condemned alleged ongoing arrest of innocent residents around Idimu/Ejigbo Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, by Nigeria Civil Defence Corps NCDC, without proper investigation over suspicion that they were responsible for oil pollution of underground wells in the area, saying the residents should be protected rather than being arrested. Arrest It would be recalled that NCDC officials last week allegedly invaded Ejigbo and arrested some residents including a pregnant woman, for alleged NNPC pipelines vandalism. Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello who spoke weekend, noted that while the state government supported every action of the Federal Government to curb stealing of petroleum products and pipeline vandalism in the nation, it, however, frowned at any act that could c...