Navy Uncovers Hotel for Siphoning Fuel, Arrest 8 Suspects

Rebecca Ejifoma

The operatives of the Nigerian Navy (NN) attached to the Operation Awatse in Lagos on Wednesday uncovered a Lagos hotel where Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was siphoned from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline.

The operatives led by the AWATSE’s Maritime Component Commanding Officer, Commander Chris Akokota also arrested eight suspects including a Police Inspector at the premises, Glonik Hotel situated at 31, Social Club Road, Abule Egba, Lagos.

The suspects arrested were Insp Lukeman Rabiu of the Lagos Police Command X-Squad Unit, the receptionist Gladys Daniel, the waitress Rachael Oludara (22), housekeeper, Adegoke Adetunji (20), tanker driver Waliu Teller (41) Oluwaseun Oguntoyin (20), Victor Vincent (19) and Bobola Kuti (28).

It was gathered that three 33,000 litres tankers were loaded overnight, two left while the third one with registration number EPE367XE developed technical problems and was abandoned at an improvised loading bay beside the hotel.

At the time of visitation alongside some naval officers, there were two other empty tankers on the street while pieces of broken bottles, chattered windscreens, hose and fuel laden jerry cans were in the hotel. Also, clips used to grip hose on pumping machines were seen in room 209 which was said to have been occupied by another policeman who fled.

Now, the hotel is said to belong to one Bashorun – an Igbo man – who usually came to the place to meet with the manager, Osipo Chris and some of the vandals.

Details shortly