Ahaji Ahmed Debo, Chairman, Western Zone of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), on Wednesday condemned activities of pipeline vandals in the zone.

Debo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that incessant pipeline vandalism was having negative effects on the country’s economic wellbeing.

The chairman urged security agents at the federal and states levels to live up to their duties by ensuring that the nefarious activities of these vandals were brought to an end.

He advised that the culprits should be dealt with within the law.

“We at the Western Zone are ready to lend a helping hand to security agents in bringing pipeline vandalism to a halt.

“We have also contributed financially and morally to effective surveillance of the pipeline that passes through the zone, especially the stem 2B axis.

“We have adopted a system that does not encourage vandalism. If you ask the security agents patrolling around our waterways, they can attest to this.”

Debo advised that security agents, saddled with the responsibility of protecting the pipelines, should have rapport with the traditional rulers in those communities. (NAN)

•Photo shows petroleum pipeline.