- Seven others arrested at Ejigbo filling station where stolen fuel was reportedly discharged by the gang.
- Police said that the recovered tanker is now secured and documented as part of evidence in the investigation.
The Lagos state police command has arrested four suspects, including a petrol station manager, for allegedly belonging to a robbery syndicate.
The police public relations officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the suspects were arrested in connection with an earlier tanker hijack.
The suspects — Noble Saint Neokoro, Batomie Samson, Abubakar Ali and Bitrus Ibrahim — were apprehended in the Ejigbo area.
Officers from the command’s Tactical Squad Hawk carried out the arrests after sustained surveillance based on credible intelligence.
Investigations revealed that the arrested station manager may have been linked to the gang’s operations without the knowledge of the station’s owner.
Sources said the suspects have confessed to being members of an organised robbery network targeting fuel tankers and commercial trucks.
The police said the gang specialised in hijacking petroleum product tankers and redirecting stolen goods to criminal outlets.
“The Tactical Squad Hawk carried out the operation that led to the arrest of four suspects, including a fuel station manager,” he said.
“The owner of the station has denied any involvement. The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, also played a vital role in the apprehension of the manager.”
Hundeyin added that the case is connected to a June 28 hijack of a Premium Motor Spirit tanker that was later found emptied in Orile.
Seven suspects had earlier been arrested at another station in Ejigbo where the stolen product was reportedly offloaded.
Those arrested in that incident included Izuchukwu Nwanoruo, Kayode Falodun, Ojo Ayodele, Ayomide Thompson, Ahmed Saliu, Igbalaye Kareem and Babatunde Ahmed.
The recovered tanker has been secured and marked as evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Hundeyin noted that all suspects are cooperating with the police and will face charges in court after the probe is concluded.
Discussion about this post