By BOSE ADELAJA

IBADAN — The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Oyo State Command, yesterday, said it arrested three  suspected pipeline vandals.

The Commandant, Mr. Shem Obafaiye, who paraded the suspects in Ibadan, said they were apprehended at Ibudo Jesu area of Surulere Local Government, Ogbomoso.

Obafaiye said the arrest would not have been possible without the help of men of the state Joint Task Force popularly known as “Operation Burst.”

According to him, an ambush was laid on the suspects’  hideout after a tip-off  while items worth millions of naira were  recovered from the scene.

He said the suspects had already tapped into an NNPC  pipeline that passed through the area and were only waiting to convey the products when they were arrested.

He said: “Our commitment in curtailing the activities of vandals will serve as a deterrent to others on the long run.

“The public have been doing their best in availing us with information on activities of criminals and this is aided by the cordial relationship and trust we share with them.

“Our intelligence gathering personnel are also up to the task and with time, if  these vandals have sponsors, they too will be caught.”

The commandant said a welding machine, rubber hoses fitted with pipes, one sledge hammer and a generator were recovered.

Other items confiscated were  one wrench, three pipe screws, two punch chisels, one mattock, 11 welding electrodes and a hoe.