The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Friday said it arrested eight members of a syndicate specialised in pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.

It said the suspects were arrested in Olowo community, in the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Mr Daniel Aidamenbor, in Akure, the state capital, the syndicate “specialises in vandalism of petroleum pipelines, illegal bunkering activities, dealings in illegal adulterated petroleum products and operating illegal dump/storage facilities” in Olowo community.

The command said all the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigation.

The statement added, “Eight suspects were arrested at the scene loading the suspected adulterated products into the storage. A black Toyota Sequoia with registration number, Lagos APP 134 DX, loaded with 70 kegs of 25 litres of adulterated automated gas oil (diesel), 28 kegs of 25 litres each of suspected adulterated AGO were moved from the crime scene.

“Others are two storage tanks with 3500 litres of adulterated AGO each. Underground storage tanks with four  compartments were also discovered at the crime scene. The first compartment was empty, the second compartment had 2,800 litres, the third compartment contained 1,500 litres while the fourth compartment had 16,500 litres of adulterated AGO.”