Lagos State taskforce dislodges oil bunkers in Orile

The operatives of the Lagos State Taskforce on Sunday dislodged oil bunkers and destroyed over two million litres of adulterated diesel around Coker in Orile area of the state.

SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, Chairman of the Taskforce, said the operations were carried out based on series of petitions by residents submitted to his office.

Egbeyemi said the petitions detailed that due to the high cost of diesel, some people were buying tankers of diesel and mixing them with kerosene around Orile area.

“The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Wilson Alaba, led the operations where 25 containers with 5,000 litres of mixed diesel and 4,500 Jerry Cans of mixed diesel were destroyed by the agency.

“Residents around the area disclosed that those bunkers have been operating around the area for over seven years,’’ he said.

A tricycle operator around the area, Mr Salami Ogunsanya, said those engaging in the illegal business bought original 33,000 litres of diesel everyday and mixed it with kerosene to increase the tanker’s capacity to 66,000 litres.

“We thank the Lagos State Government for its efforts in providing enough security for lives and properties of the citizens. We also thank the taskforce for the prompt intervention," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, Head, Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Taskforce, said during the third quarter of the year, 3,480 motorcycles plying restricted routes across the state were impounded.

He said no fewer than 5,890 miscreants were arrested out of which 1,500 were screened out and 4,390 prosecuted.