Police arrest 4 men who allegedly hijacked kerosene tanker at filling station

Lagos - The police in Lagos have arrested four persons, who allegedly conspired with some men in army uniform to hijack a tanker laden with kerosene at a filling station.

The state Police Public Relations Office (PPRO), DSP Ngozi Braide, said this in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

A copy of the statement was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Braide said that the suspects and the others on army uniform allegedly snatched a Mercedes Benz tanker with Reg. No. SF 657AWK.

The PPRO said that the tanker was laden with 33,000 litres of kerosene, adding that the men on army uniform escaped arrest.

"The incident happened on Feb. 26 at about 2 a.m.

"The suspects carried out the operation when the tanker driver was discharging the products at an AP Filling Station on the Governors Road, Ikotun -- a suburb of Lagos.

``A police anti-robbery team attached to the Okokomaiko Division, acting on a tipoff, pursued the suspects, arrested four and recovered the tanker with its content.

"There is a manhunt for the supposed military men. The case is under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba,’’ Braide said.

 The PPRO also stated that policemen attached to the Abattoir Division, Agege, Lagos recently had a gun battle with some armed robbers at the Lagos State Abattoir, Agege.

She said that the suspected robbers abandoned four locally made double-barrel pistols and six live cartridges during the exchange of gunfire, and escaped.