The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has announced the arrest of three persons for allegedly vandalising 17 petroleum pipelines in Dafa, Kwali Area Council of the territory.
The arrested suspects are:
- Maitama Inuwa ‘M’ 30yrs from Rafin Dadi in Lere Local Government of Kaduna State who is the driver of the truck with registration number MAK 159 XA(Niger) used in conveying the vandalized pipes,
- Yahuza Danlami ‘M’ 32yrs old from Anguwan Kataf, Mariri Lere Local Government of Kaduna State, is the Motor Boy of the truck.
- Yasir Abdulrahman ‘M’ 26yrs from Gajiri Village, Suleja, Niger State who is the representative of the vandalized pipes dealers.
In a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), the FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr Olusola Odumosu, disclosed that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects operated in remote and forested areas through which petroleum pipelines passed.
“When it’s dark, they deliberately dig up and cut these high-pressure pipelines into sizable pieces for easy loading into their trucks,” he said.
Disclosing the manner of breakthrough, Odumosu informed that the NSCDC, acting on credible intelligence about pipeline right-of-way vandalism in the area, deployed surveillance personnel to the location before the suspects were eventually arrested.
“Our operatives intensified surveillance through monitoring and patrolling of the location. But upon sighting our men, the suspected vandals fled the scene and abandoned the already severed petroleum pipelines.
“However, the monitoring activities paid off on Sept. 20 when the suspects allegedly returned to the area and attempted to load the abandoned iron pipes into a truck.
“NSCDC operatives on surveillance, supported by members of the vigilante group, swiftly moved in and arrested three of the suspects, while some other members of the gang reportedly escaped into the surrounding bush,” he said.
Odumosu said pipeline vandalism not only caused massive economic losses to the country but also posed an immediate risk of explosions and environmental degradation.
“This successful operation has effectively disrupted a major network responsible for sabotaging the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited pipelines, originally built to supply crude oil and other petroleum products to the Kaduna refinery and other depots across the country,” he said.
The commandant said the arrested suspects had been subjected to preliminary investigation and profiling and would be granted administrative bail after meeting the stipulated conditions.
“Preliminary investigation by the Intelligence and Investigation Department in the command has also identified others allegedly connected with the activities, including four suspects whose names were mentioned and are currently at large.
“The investigation further indicates the possible existence of an organised criminal network involved in the vandalism, movement and illicit sale of components removed from the pipeline right of way,” he said.
Odumosu disclosed that the exhibits recovered from the suspects included a long commercial truck loaded with 17 vandalised NNPC petroleum pipes.
While appreciating the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, for supporting the command’s efforts, the Commandant maintained that the Corps would work to identify the alleged end-buyers and sponsors behind the activities.
