The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has uncovered a criminal network allegedly disguising itself as a Federal Government task force to steal oil pipelines across the country.
The company disclosed that suspected vandals operating under the guise of an “NNPC/Federal Government Task Force for Recovery of Abandoned Pipelines” have stolen about nine kilometres of pipeline infrastructure, particularly along sections of the Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline corridor.
The revelation followed a joint inspection of a vandalised pipeline segment at Pai Community in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), conducted by NNPC Ltd, its subsidiary, the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), security agencies and other stakeholders.
The exercise came after the arrest of three suspected pipeline vandals during a coordinated operation in the Piri and Pai communities.
In a statement issued by NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the company said the inspection was aimed at assessing the damage to critical oil infrastructure, advancing investigations and strengthening efforts to tackle economic sabotage.
According to the statement, NPSC manages more than 5,000 kilometres of crude oil and petroleum products pipelines nationwide, but has recorded increasing incidents of vandalism since 2024.
The company disclosed that 24 cases of pipeline vandalism have been reported along affected corridors since 2025.
Of the figure, 19 incidents were recorded in 2025, resulting in the theft of approximately nine kilometres of pipeline sections along the Enugu-Makurdi-Yola corridor and between Piri and Izom on the Warri-Kaduna pipeline route.
NNPC added that five additional cases have already been reported in 2026 at locations including Piri-Kwali, Gwagwalada and Badanga along the Warri-Kaduna and Jos-Gombe pipeline corridors.
The affected pipelines serve as strategic infrastructure for transporting crude oil from the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company to the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.
Speaking during the inspection, NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, represented by Chief Interface Officer Dahiru Sani-Gwarzo, described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in the fight against pipeline sabotage.
He said security agencies were intensifying efforts to identify and prosecute the masterminds behind the criminal activities, noting that pipeline vandalism poses a serious threat to national development, energy security and investor confidence.
The Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, said intelligence gathering and surveillance operations led to the arrest of the suspects.
According to him, investigations have already generated useful leads regarding the sponsors and buyers of stolen pipeline materials.
Also speaking, Director of Energy Security at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Goodluck Ebele, urged residents living near pipeline infrastructure to report suspicious activities to security agencies.
Representatives of the Nigerian Army and the National Assembly also pledged continued support for efforts to protect critical oil and gas infrastructure and strengthen legal measures against economic sabotage.
Pipeline vandalism remains a major challenge for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, contributing to production losses, environmental damage and reduced government revenue.
Industry observers warn that continued attacks on the Warri-Kaduna pipeline could affect plans to resume operations at the Kaduna refinery, which relies on crude supplies transported through the pipeline network.