The police anti-pipeline vandalism unit of the police has arrested five people including two Indians over oil theft. Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the unit, Friday Ibadin, said the five suspects were arrested after a tip off. They are: Fatai. Afolabi, 52; Emmanuel Igbokwe, 32; Tukur Mohammed, 27; Kamal Shema (Indian),32 and Ashok Agarwal (Indian), 66.

Shema and Agarwal were officials of Prism Steel Mill and they were accused of receiving stolen oil.

“On January 13, I received text message that some vandals were seen around NNPC pipeline located in Amomon village near Okene and had loaded about five trucks of crude oil for onward delivery to a company, Prism Steel Mill, Ikirun in Osun State. On January 15, two trucks with registration number Lagos XQ 522 APP and Lagos XC 102 KSF were trailed to the premises of the company unloading the product into underground tanks of the company. The suspects were arrested and the trucks were recovered,” Ibadin said.