Six persons have been arrested in connection with vandalism of Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline at Ekperi axis in Edo State.
The Chairman, Edo State Task Force for Protection of Government Property, Eugene Okolosie who disclosed this on Wednesday, said the acts were suspected to have been carried out in collision with some members of the community.
The suspected vandals were accused of stealing about 30km length of the crude oil pipes.
Okolosie further disclosed that the suspects used excavators to dig out the pipes meant to convey crude oil from Warri to the Kaduna Refinery.
He however added that some of the pipes have been recovered from the syndicate.
Similarly, the taskforce chairman announced that five suspects who vandalised a government tractor and other heavy equipment have been arrested at Uhuoghun, in Orhionmwon local government area.
He further revealed that five other suspects have also been arrested at Okpella for stealing high-tension electricity equipment.
Okolosie further decried the high rate of encroachment and stealing of government lands, including reserved areas in all parts of the state, adding that the taskforce has recovered 480 hectares of government land sold illegally by some community members.
“In Sobe, the people sold the Melina and Tick trees planted by Government in the reserved forest area. They destroyed the forest and started planting plantains on it.
“This has been going on for the past eight years”, Okolosie said, noting that most of the land being sold illegally by community youth leaders and others in various communities, were government reserved.
He expressed worry over the rate lands meant for development were being sold in the state with particular reference to Ewomama community where the Civic Centre, generator, market and the community Secondary School land were sold.
Okolosie, however, said government has recovered the lands sold illegally.
He added that land grabbers have particularly descended on school lands across the state, noting that there is hardly any school that has not been invaded and cited Uromi, where a private school was built inside a public school land.
Disclosing that the taskforce has to a large extent recovered the lands, Okolosie warned that “Anybody that attacks education is attacking the future of his community”.
He commended the state government for assisting the taskforce on its mandate and warned members of the public to beware of impersonators claiming to be members of the taskforce and extorting money from them.
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