Police Arrest Seven Suspected Pipeline Vandals, Recover 285 NNPC Pipes in Adamawa
Otamere Gladness 
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigeria Police Force has arrested seven suspected pipeline vandals and recovered 285 pieces of vandalised Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipelines during a counter-economic sabotage operation in Adamawa State.
The operation, carried out by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering alongside the IGP X-Squad, followed credible intelligence on the movement of suspected stolen petroleum infrastructure along the Yola–Numan Road.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying officers intercepted a J5 bus loaded with vandalised pipeline components during the operation.
The suspects were 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.
Police said the operation also led to the recovery of six gas cylinders, digging equipment, shovels, the J5 vehicle with registration number KRD 767 XC, and other tools suspected to have been used in vandalising petroleum infrastructure.
According to the statement, the suspects remain in custody while investigators work to uncover the wider criminal network and identify other collaborators involved in the illegal operation.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure and combating economic sabotage.
He urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing credible and timely intelligence capable of preventing attacks on national assets.
AHR reports that pipeline vandalism continues to pose serious threats to Nigeria’s energy security, environmental safety and economic stability, making intelligence-led security operations critical to protecting strategic infrastructure.
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