By Evelyn Usman

Protesting pipeline vandals went on rampage in Arepo area of Ogun State, shooting a pregnant woman dead.

The vandals, as gathered, were protesting the arrest of one of theirs by security men from Donyx Global Concepts Limited, one of the companies contracted by the Federal Government to secure pipelines in the South-West region.

The company, as gathered, is owned by one of the factional leaders of the Odua Peoples Congress, OPC.

Report has it that officials of Donyx, who acted on tip-off, stormed the creeks Sunday, while vandals were siphoning petroleum products from a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

One of them was said to have been arrested, while transporting some of the siphoned product out of the vicinity, while his colleagues bolted on sighting the officials.

A 50-litre jerry can filled with petroleum product was recovered from the suspect.

However, residents of the area were reportedly jolted Wednesday, following sporadic gunshots from the vandals, who stormed the area to continue with the illicit act and at the same time called for the release of their colleague.

In the process, a stray bullet was said to have hit the pregnant woman, killing her on the spot.

A resident of Arepo, (names withheld) said: “There were heavy gunshots from the pipeline area. It lasted for more than 30 minutes. It was like a war theatre, as the vandals were ready to kill anybody. One woman was killed.”

An official of Donyx, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident, stating however, that the company was not deterred by the activities of the pipeline vandals.

“They were protesting the arrest of one of their members by our men and started shooting indiscriminately, which led to the death of a woman and another person injured,” the official said.

Efforts to reach the Ogun State Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Odejobi, to ascertain whether any arrest was made failed as his phone rang without response.