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 Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve
Ayorinde while confirming this, said the steps 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.
Illegal Oil Wells Discovered In Lagos
