By Nwaneri Uche
Six people have been arrested for the theft of a 30-kilometer portion of the Warri-Kaduna pipeline in Ekperi, Edo State. Eugene Okolosie, chairman of the Edo State Task Force on Recovery of Government Property, made the announcement on Wednesday in Benin, noting the group’s achievements. Okolosie underlined that the theft caused severe damage to the pipeline, stating that the accused criminals worked with locals to perpetrate the offence.
He further revealed that the suspects dug up the pipes intended to transfer crude oil from Warri to the refinery in Kaduna with excavators. Furthermore, the syndicate that conducted the crime owns some of the seized pipes. According to the task force chairman, five individuals who destroyed government agricultural tractors and other heavy machineries for sale were also apprehended in Uhuoghun, Orhionmwon Local Government Area. In addition, he announced that five more suspects in the theft of high-voltage electrical equipment had been apprehended in Okpella.
Okolosie expressed deep worry over the widespread theft and invasion of government lands, particularly reserved areas, across the state. He underlined that the task force successfully returned 480 hectares of government land that had been illegally sold by some community members. To be clear, six people have been arrested in connection with the theft of a 30-kilometer portion of the Warri-Kaduna pipeline near Ekperi. The government planted melina and tick trees in Sobe’s restricted forest region, which villagers then sold. After that, they cleared the jungle and began planting plantains there. This behaviour has been ongoing for the past eight years.
According to Okolosie, government-reserved lands account for the vast bulk of illegally sold land by local leaders, youth, and others in various regions. The task force chairman expressed alarm about the state’s shocking rate of selling off development-ready land. He raised awareness about the sale of the secondary school property, market, generator, and municipal centre in the Ewomama Community. He did, however, inform the public that the government had reclaimed the illegally sold land. Okolosie stated that unscrupulous land grabbers had targeted school properties across the state. He used Uromi as an example, where a private school was created within a public one.
Okolosie emphasised that “anyone who attacks education is attacking the future of their community” and stated that the task force has made significant progress in reclaiming land belonging to schools in the state. He cautioned the public to be wary of impersonators who would pose as task force members and demand money from them, and he complimented the state government for its support of the task force’s achievements.
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