Speaking about career change, this is one of a kind career change.
Salifu Odiba dreamt of owning his own hospital one day, after he gained admission to study Medicine and Surgery at University of Jos in 1996. 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.”
PUNCH
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