Four suspects – Jamiu Sittu, Bolaji Isila, Sola Ogunlade and Semiu Bello – are currently in the net of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, for allegedly engaging in illegal oil bunkering. One of the suspects, 37-year-old Shittu, an Ogun indigene said he took to the act recently to get money to pay up the hospital bill of his wife who gave birth to a baby boy in July, 2014 through caesarean section.
The commercial driver explained that N150,000 was charged for the surgery, but he could only pay N80,000. He said:
“I started the business three months ago. I am a commercial driver, but I was not earning enough. I was actually pushed into it so that I could balance my wife’s hospital bill on time. We got married in October, 2013.
The suspects were rounded up at about 10pm on January 16 around Eyita Sabo in the Ikorodu area of the state. The team recovered 52 jerrycans, with each containing 50 litres of petrol, from two vehicles used by the suspects.
The state commandant of the corps, Gabriel Abbafi, said his men swooped on the suspects following an intelligence report. Abbafi enjoined people to engage in lawful vocations rather than exploiting the country’s economy which was meant to benefit all. He said:
“The suspects are guilty of the crime. Some of them have confessed. We are trying to get them to help us to nab the real kingpins.”
Was that enough reason for him to indulge in such an illegal act?