The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC has intensified efforts to clamp down on economic saboteurs, oil thieves, and pipeline vandals within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Commandant of the Corps in the FCT, Olusola Odumosu, stated this while briefing journalists on a major breakthrough achieved by the Command in protecting the nation’s economic arteries.
Commandant Odumosu remarked that the breakthrough was achieved through their intelligence-led operation, active community collaboration, and the tireless dedication of their operatives over the past few days.
“The credible actionable intelligence received regarding vandalism activities along the pipeline Right of Way (ROW) in the area led to a prolonged surveillance by our tactical team in Kwali Division and eventual interception of three (3) individuals suspected to belong to an organised criminal syndicate connected with the alleged vandalism and attempted removal of NNPC pipeline components around Dafa in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
“I am happy to inform you all that this successful operation has effectively disrupted a major network responsible for sabotaging the NNPC pipelines which were originally built to supply crude oil and other petroleum products to Kaduna Refinery and distribute the same to NNPC depots across the country,” he said.
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According to him, acting on credible intelligence from the vigilante group, who are actively collaborating with the NSCDC Kwali divisional office, their operatives intensified surveillance, monitoring and patrol of the location, but upon sighting our men, the suspected vandals fled from the scene of the crime and abandoned the already severed petroleum pipelines.
“On 20 September 2026, 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.
Preliminary Investigation
The Commandant emphasised that Preliminary investigation by the Command’s Intelligence and Investigation Department has also identified other persons allegedly connected with the activities, including four other individuals whose names were mentioned and are currently at large.
He explained that “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. The Command is consequently expanding its investigation to identify other persons involved in the alleged criminal enterprise and establish the full extent of the activities.”
Odumosu informed that Preliminary investigations showed that these vandals operate in remote and forested areas where petroleum pipelines transit through the FCT.
“When it’s dark, they deliberately dig up and cut these high-pressure pipelines into sizeable pieces for easy loading into their truck; this reckless activity not only causes massive economic losses to the country but also poses an immediate risk of catastrophic explosions and environmental degradation,” he stated.
The Commandant noted that the arrested suspects have been subjected to preliminary investigation, intense profiling and granted administrative bail after fulfilment of the stipulated conditions.
He said the Command’s Legal Unit would review the case file for appropriate legal action in accordance with extant laws.
“The Command will work tirelessly to identify the end-buyers, the sponsors bankrolling this sabotage and subsequently enforce the full weight of the Miscellaneous Offences Act. I want to assure the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally, transparently and in accordance with the law, and anyone found to have participated in, facilitated or benefited from the alleged criminal activities shall be prosecuted before a court of competent jurisdiction.”
To this end, he said, they have intensified efforts to apprehend the suspects currently at large and strengthen collaboration with relevant stakeholders and security agencies to prevent further attacks on critical infrastructure within the FCT.
“The protection of critical national assets and infrastructure is a fundamental responsibility of the NSCDC. We shall continue to deploy intelligence-led operations, surveillance and community-based security strategies to identify and disrupt those who vandalise or facilitate the illegal removal and/or sale of any critical infrastructure.”
“We express our deepest gratitude to the members of the Vigilante Group in Kwali for their cooperation and strategic support in arresting the suspects. The Command therefore calls on members of the public, particularly residents and communities along the pipeline Right of Way, to provide credible information that could assist in the apprehension of vandals and the dismantling of any network involved in pipeline vandalism.” He said.
The cooperation of host communities, he said, remains critical to the protection of these infrastructures and other government assets.
He, however, urged the traditional rulers, community leaders, youths and residents along the pipeline corridor to support their efforts by promptly reporting suspicious movements and activities to security agencies.
