From Funmi Peter-Omale and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, 09.27.2005

This came against the background of the arrest of four suspects arrested early yesterday morning in Lagos for vandalisation of oil pipelines. According to the IG, policemen were among the ones arrested but said they would be paraded today at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
In the last few weeks, men and officers have been indicted in a number of criminal activities that ranged from extra judicial killing to robbery and sexual abuse/misconduct.
But at the inauguration yesterday, Ehindero said the former task force was disbanded for ineffectiveness, unprofessional conduct and outright connivance with vandals in the perpetration of the crime which they were supposed to prevent.
“It was alleged that some members of the erstwhile task force became too familiar with the communities and rather than prevent vandals from tampering with the pipelines, they even provided cover for the pipeline vandals.
“Let me remind you that the advent of information technology has enabled us to have access to information more than ever before. Early this morning, I received a phone call that there was vandalisation of some pipelines in Lagos. I directed the commissioner of police to get the culprits arrested and four of them were arrested. Unfortunately, some of them included our men. I have directed that their baron should be arrested.”
According to him, the ineffectiveness and unprofessional conduct of the members of former task Ffrce not only emboldened criminals, but led to colossal loss of revenue to government.
“Let me remind you that vandalisation is an economic crime. The consequence of vandalisation is life imprisonment. Any person or persons caught aiding or abetting the commission of the crime will be charged along as an accomplice. Hence forth, we will do everything we can to ensure speedy prosecution of suspects.

Infact, prosecution will be inititiated from this headquarters. It is possible within two weeks to get the exhibits and get the suspect here and they will be charged to court.”
He noted that He sounded a note of warning to the 557 Task Force saying there was no spirit de corps in vandalisation, stressing that they should carry out their duties without fear or favour even as he called on them to report any member of the team suspected to be involved in vandalisation.
Acting Managing Director Pipeline Product Marketing Company (PPMC), Engr. Martins Oti commended the show of patriotism exhibited by the Nigeria Police in its determination ton wipe our incidence of pipeline vandalisation in the country.
He said the activities of the vandals was costing Nigeria a huge amount of money.
“What is destroyed by these vandals is costing FG billions of naira to replace” he said.
While expressing the readiness of PPMC to work with the police task force, Oti said the organisation would not hesitate to report cases of connivance by any of the officers to the IG for discipline.”