The Nigerian Police Force has burst a pipeline vandalism network, arresting seven suspected vandals in Adamawa state.
In an operation carried out by the personnel attached to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering and the IGP X-Squad, the police apprehended the seven suspects with 285 pieces of vandalized Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipelines recovered from them.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu.
According to Anietie, the operatives, acting on credible intelligence on the 9th of July, intercepted a J5 bus fully loaded with suspected vandalized NNPC pipelines along the Yola–Numan Road in Adamawa State.
The vehicle was reportedly driven by one Paul Joshua and accompanied by one Paul Ishiyaku.
The operation subsequently led to the arrest of the seven suspects identified as Haruna Usman (28), Haruna Muhammed Sule (30), Dabus Peter (38), Ahmad Adamu (19), Sadik Ibrahim (31), Paul Joshua (49), and Paul Ishiyaku (48).
Further searches conducted during the operation resulted in the recovery of 285 pieces of vandalized pipelines, six gas cylinders, diggers, shovels, one J5 bus with registration number KRD 767 XC, blue in colour, and other equipment suspected to have been used in the commission of the crime.
The police said all recovered exhibits have been secured as evidence with the suspects are currently in custody amid ongoing investigations to determine the full scope of the criminal enterprise and identify other individuals connected to the vandalism network.
Anietie reiterated the police’s commitment to the protection of critical national infrastructure and the fight against economic sabotage.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing efforts aimed at combating crime and safeguarding national assets across the country.