The Lagos State Government on Friday shut 12
houses in Abeokuta and Ibadan Streets in
Ilasamaja area of the State over discovery of
shallow oil wells built by landlords to illegally
scoop diesel from pipeline belonging to the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The oil wells were said to have been built for the
purpose of illegally scooping diesel and selling
same to members of the public, while some of the
affected landlords built pumping machine and
bore hole to perpetrate the crime on a large scale.
The State’s Commissioning for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde who confirmed this
while briefing newsmen at the Lagos House, Ikeja,
said the step to shut the wells and condone off the
area was taken by government to forestall loss of
lives and property as a result of the looming
danger.
Ayorinde, who addressed journalists alongside
top government functionaries and the Lagos State
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said a
combined team from the police command, the
Ministry of Environment, Lagos State Environmental
Protection Agency, Lagos State Fire Service and Sole Administrator of Isolo Local Council
Development Area carried out a thorough
inspection of the entire area and discovered
nothing less than 12 of the illegal oil wells.
He said that initial investigation revealed that a few
of the landlords where the wells are located were
taking advantage of the situation by
commercializing the dangerous act.
He said that samples of the substance have been
taken for immediate investigation in order to
determine the true nature of the substance as well
as the root cause of this usually occurrence. He
said the State Government was working with the
NNPC for further investigation.
Ayorinde said that for the safety of residents,
especially on Abeokuta and Ibadan Streets, the
affected well have been sealed off, adding that the
government would also work with those who are
likely to be displaced as a result of the
development.
“
The Lagos State Government wishes to use
this opportunity to remind Lagosians and
the residents of these areas in particular, to
assist the police with useful information and
to urge them to always volunteer
information before any potentially dangerous situation degenerates to public
hazard,” he said.
Also speaking the Commissioner of Police
confirmed the arrest of three suspects in the
operation, adding that a fire tanker has been
stationed in the event of any fire incident.
The men of the Lagos State Police Command in the
area who were on routine patrol said they saw a
woman around 12 midnight with keg of diesel
and when an attempt was made for her to be
accosted, she fled, a development which alerted
the police of something fishy.
The police immediately pursued the woman and
accosted her, after which she eventually took
them to number 12, Abeokuta Street, off
Ilasamaja, one of the houses housing the illegal oil
wells.
Upon getting to the said house, those inside shut
the door and prevented the police from gaining
entrance.
The officers thereafter left the scene with the
arrested woman, and they later came back
disguising as potential buyers of diesel, while
those inside opened the door.
It was at that point that the illegal oil well was
discovered at the house, after which about ten
more wells were discovered in other houses in
Abeokuta and Ibadan streets
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