The Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested three suspects, including a truck driver, over the alleged vandalism of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipelines in Dafa village, Kwali Area Council of Abuja.
The FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, disclosed this on Wednesday while parading the suspects at the NSCDC Kwali Divisional Office.
He said the arrests were made under the directive of the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, as part of the command’s crackdown on oil thieves, pipeline vandals and other economic saboteurs in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to Odumosu, the operation followed credible intelligence about vandalism along the pipeline right of way in Dafa village.
“The arrests resulted from intelligence-led operation, active community collaboration, and the tireless dedication of our operatives,” he said.
He explained that NSCDC operatives launched a surveillance operation after receiving information from a vigilance group about suspicious activities around the pipelines.
According to him, the suspects initially fled after spotting security operatives, abandoning sections of the pipeline that had already been cut.
However, on September 20, the suspects allegedly returned to load the abandoned pipes into a truck, leading to their arrest.
“Operatives, supported by members of the vigilance group, swiftly moved in and arrested three of the suspects, while other gang members escaped into the surrounding bushes,” he said.
“The suspects are Maitama Inuwa, 30, from Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, who drove the truck used to transport the vandalised pipes; Yahuza Danlami, 32, also from Lere, who served as the motor boy; and Yasir Abdulrahman, 26, from Suleja in Niger State, who represented the buyers of the vandalised pipes.”
Odumosu said investigations had revealed four other suspects who were still on the run, adding that the command had expanded its investigation to uncover the full network behind the alleged operation.
The NSCDC also recovered a long commercial truck with registration number MAK 159 XA (Niger), loaded with vandalised NNPC pipes, as well as 17 pieces of vandalised petroleum pipes.
The commandant said the syndicate allegedly operated mostly in remote and forested areas where pipelines pass through the FCT.
He explained that they dug up and cut high-pressure pipelines into smaller pieces under the cover of darkness before loading them into trucks.
Odumosu said the suspects had undergone preliminary investigation and profiling before being granted administrative bail after meeting the required conditions.
He added that the command’s Legal Unit would review the case file before taking appropriate legal action.
The command also said it would investigate those suspected of sponsoring or buying the vandalised pipes and would enforce the provisions of the Miscellaneous Offences Act against anyone found culpable.
“I want to assure the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally, transparently and in accordance with the law,” Odumosu said.
He warned that anyone found to have participated in or benefited from the alleged crime would be prosecuted.
