When Salifu Odiba gained admission to study Medicine and
Surgery at University of Jos in 1996, his dream was to one day own his
hospital.
But two years after his graduation, the
35-year-old doctor abandoned his stethoscope and chose life on the fast
lane by joining pipeline vandalism cartel.
Odiba, who was
recently arrested in Kogi State by the Police Special Task Force on
Anti-Pipeline Vandalism, Force Headquarters, said he was attracted to
the illegal business because it was lucrative.
He said, “I spent
eight years studying Medicine and Surgery in UNIJOS and graduated in
2004 and later served in Bauchi State. A year later, I got a job at
Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission where I practised
for six months. But I was later asked to leave.
“I moved to Kogi
in 2006 and it was there that a friend introduced me to the business. I
was making good money and later got a part time job at Federal Medical
Centre. I received N90,000 as monthly salary which
was not enough for
me. So, I stuck to the pipeline business.”
The suspect added that he even had a part-time job at another hospital but the commission he received was too little.
Describing his modus operandi, the Kogi State indigene said he acted as a middleman for the vandals and buyers.
He said although he never destroyed a pipeline, he was actively involved in the business and soon became popular.
He said he was usually paid commission by pipeline vandals and buyers after he had sold the products.
“People
started calling me ‘oil doctor’ because I always had ready buyers for
all kinds of petroleum products. Oil business is very lucrative
especially in Kogi State where as many as 17 trucks of petroleum
products could be siphoned and sold in one night,” he said.
Odiba
lamented that the medical profession was no longer as prestigious as it
was due to the “large number” of people practising it.
“People don’t visit hospitals like before. These days, many Nigerians prefer to take self medication,” he said.
Narrating
how he was arrested, the suspect said he was contacted by a source at
Lokoja, the state capital, who claimed to have large quantities of oil
in a barge.
He said he was on his way to finalise the deal when policemen arrested him.
Odiba, who vowed not to return to crime if released, burst into tears when narrating the hardship he had suffered in the past.
He said although N90, 000 was not a poor salary, the pressures of having to take care of his siblings fuelled his greed.
He
said, “I have four siblings and my parents are retired. I am the first
son and through this business, I have been able to sponsor two of my
siblings through university and they have graduated. I don’t spend the
money I make on myself. I have a fiancée but I can’t even afford a
wedding now.
“I don’t want my siblings to suffer and I did this
for them. Crime for me was due to a quest for survival but I promise
never to go back to it. I spent last year’s Christmas in police custody
after being arrested in Kaduna. This year again, I’m spending my
Christmas in detention.
“I’m tired of this life of crime and I
promise never to go back to it again. My dream is still to own a
hospital and even while doing the oil business; I rendered free medical
services to people.”
Odiba, who was arrested and detained for a
similar offence last year, said he was released and warned when
investigation showed that he only played a minor role.
The
Officer in charge of the task force, Friday Ibadin said Odiba’s case was
proof that not only miscreants were into the illegitimate business.
He
said, “The suspect was arrested at Lokoja. Ajaokuta specifically has
become a haven for these criminals. The business is very lucrative
because a tanker of crude oil could be bought illegally for as low as
N800, 000 and resold at N5m during scarcity.
“This is economic
sabotage and it carries a life sentence. Members of the public are
hereby warned to stay away from the nation’s pipelines.”
0 Comments