Susan Abayomi
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory Command, has arrested three suspects allegedly involved in the vandalism and attempted removal of components of a petroleum pipeline in Dafa, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The suspects were apprehended following intelligence received through a local vigilante group working with the NSCDC Kwali Divisional Office.
The Command described the operation as a significant breakthrough in its ongoing intelligence-driven efforts to combat economic sabotage and protect critical national infrastructure.
The suspects were identified as Maitama Inuwa, 30, of Rafin Dadi, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State; Yahuza Danlami, 32, of Anguwan Kataf, Mariri, also in Lere Local Government Area; and Yasir Abdulrahman, 26, of Gajiri Village, Suleja, Niger State.
According to the Command, Inuwa was the driver of a truck with registration number MAK 159 XA (Niger), allegedly used to transport the vandalised pipeline components, while Danlami was identified as the truck’s motor boy. Abdulrahman was described as a representative of dealers allegedly involved in the purchase of the vandalised pipes.
Speaking on the operation, the FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr Olusola Odumosu, said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects operated in remote and forested areas along the pipeline route.
He explained that the suspects allegedly took advantage of darkness to excavate and cut sections of the high-pressure pipelines into smaller pieces for transportation.
Odumosu said the Command deployed surveillance personnel to the area after receiving credible intelligence concerning suspected vandalism along the pipeline right-of-way.
According to him, the suspects initially fled after sighting NSCDC personnel, leaving behind sections of the pipeline they had allegedly severed.
He said the surveillance operation eventually yielded results on September 20, when the suspects reportedly returned to the location and attempted to load the abandoned pipeline components into a truck.
NSCDC personnel, assisted by members of the vigilante group, moved in and arrested three suspects, while other alleged members of the group escaped into the surrounding bush.
Odumosu warned that pipeline vandalism inflicts significant economic losses on the country while also creating serious risks of explosions and environmental damage.
He said the operation had disrupted what preliminary findings suggested was a network involved in the vandalism of pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), infrastructure originally designed to support the transportation of crude oil and petroleum products to the Kaduna refinery and other depots.
The Commandant disclosed that the arrested suspects had undergone preliminary investigation and profiling and would be considered for administrative bail upon fulfilment of the required conditions.
He added that investigations had also revealed the identities of four other individuals allegedly connected to the activities, who are currently at large.
Odumosu said investigators were examining indications of an organised criminal network involved in the vandalism, transportation and illegal sale of components removed from the pipeline right-of-way.
Among the exhibits recovered during the operation was a commercial truck loaded with 17 vandalised petroleum pipes.
The FCT Commandant commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, for their support of the Command’s efforts to protect critical infrastructure.
He assured that the NSCDC would continue its investigation with a view to identifying alleged sponsors and end-buyers linked to the pipeline vandalism.
