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NNPC Ltd Uncovers Pipeline Vandals, Disguising as FG Taskforce
Well-equipped criminal syndicates are disguising themselves as members of a Federal Government taskforce to steal critical oil infrastructure across Nigeria.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) made the revelation, describing it as a disturbing trend in the country’s worsening pipeline vandalism crisis.
According to the state oil major, 24 cases of vandalism had been recorded along sections of the Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline corridor since 2025, with about nine kilometres of pipeline already stolen by suspected vandals.
The revelation came as the NNPC Ltd, through its Industry-Wide Security Architecture and its subsidiary, the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company, conducted a joint inspection of a vandalised section of pipeline at Pai Community in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The inspection, carried out alongside the Office of the National Security Adviser Special Prosecution Team, the FCT Police Command, the Nigerian Army and other security stakeholders, followed the arrest of three suspected pipeline vandals in the Piri and Pai communities.
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In a statement on Thursday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, asserted that the inspection was aimed at assessing the extent of damage to the critical national asset, advancing ongoing investigations and reinforcing efforts to combat economic sabotage.
The statement read, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited through the Industry Wide Security Architecture and Nigerian Pipelines & Storage Company in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser Special Prosecution Team, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, the Nigerian Army and other security stakeholders, on Tuesday conducted a joint inspection of a vandalised section of the NPSC crude oil pipeline at Pai Community in Kwali Area Council of the FCT, Abuja.
“The high-level inspection was undertaken to assess the extent of damage to critical national assets, advance ongoing investigations, and reinforce coordinated efforts to combat economic sabotage and safeguard Nigeria’s strategic energy infrastructure.
“The visit followed the arrest of three suspected pipeline vandals in the Piri and Pai communities through a joint operation involving the ONSA Special Prosecution Team, the FCT Police Command, and the NNPC Ltd’s Industry-Wide Security Architecture.”
According to Odeh, the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company, a subsidiary of the NNPC Ltd, owns and manages more than 5,000 kilometres of crude oil and petroleum products pipelines across the country.
He expressed sadness that pipeline theft across the network has intensified in recent years.
“NPSC, a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd, owns more than 5,000km of crude oil and petroleum products pipeline network. Pipeline theft across NPSC’s network has been on the increase since 2024.
“Well-equipped criminals disguising themselves as the ‘NNPC/Federal Government Taskforce for Recovery of Abandoned Pipelines’ connive with locals to dig out and steal these pipelines,” the statement noted.
The company disclosed that 19 incidents were recorded in 2025 alone.
“In 2025, a total of 19 cases were reported, with about 9km of pipeline section stolen along the Enugu-Makurdi-Yola corridor and between Piri and Izom along the Warri-Kaduna pipeline corridors.
“So far in 2026, five cases have been reported at Piri-Kwali and Gwagwalada along the Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline segment and at Badanga along the Jos-Gombe pipeline corridor,” it added.
The affected infrastructure serves as a strategic route for transporting crude oil from the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) to the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC).
Speaking during the inspection, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Ojulari, represented by the company’s Chief Interface Officer, Dahiru Sani-Gwarzo, said the arrests marked an important breakthrough in the fight against pipeline sabotage.
“The industry-wide security architecture has been actively pursuing criminal elements involved in the sabotage of our energy infrastructure. Those apprehended are only a small part of a larger network.
“Our focus remains on identifying and bringing to justice the masterminds and sponsors behind these criminal activities.
“Beyond the significant economic losses they cause, such acts undermine national development, energy security and investor confidence.
“We will continue to work closely with our security partners to ensure these crimes are decisively addressed,” he said.
On his part, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, said the arrests demonstrated the resolve of security agencies to dismantle organised criminal groups targeting national infrastructure.
“The operation demonstrates our collective determination to protect critical national assets and dismantle criminal syndicates involved in pipeline vandalism.
“The suspects were apprehended following intensive intelligence gathering, surveillance operations and targeted patrols after reports of interference with sections of the pipeline.
“Our investigations have already generated valuable leads regarding the sponsors and receivers of the vandalised materials.
“We want to assure Nigerians that all individuals connected to these criminal activities will be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” Sanusi stated.
Also speaking, the Director of Energy Security at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Goodluck Ebele, urged Nigerians to support ongoing efforts by providing timely information to security agencies.
“Public vigilance and cooperation remain critical to protecting national assets and strengthening Nigeria’s energy security.
“We appeal to citizens living around these facilities to report suspicious activities promptly. Pipeline vandalism is not a victimless crime; it affects national revenue, energy supply and economic development,” he said.
Representing the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. J.O. Ajongbo reaffirmed the military’s commitment to safeguarding oil and gas infrastructure nationwide.
“We remain committed to working closely with NNPC Ltd and all relevant agencies to secure critical energy infrastructure across the country.
“The protection of these assets is a national responsibility, and the military will continue to play its part in ensuring that criminal elements do not succeed in their attempts to sabotage the economy,” he stated.
Similarly, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Hon. Sesi Whingan, pledged legislative support to strengthen deterrence against pipeline vandalism.
“We will continue to support measures that enhance the legal and regulatory framework needed to combat pipeline vandalism.
“Those who engage in economic sabotage must understand that there will be consequences, and we will work with relevant institutions to ensure that our laws serve as effective deterrents,” he said.
Pipeline vandalism has remained one of the biggest challenges confronting Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, contributing to production losses, environmental degradation and reduced revenues.
While much of the public attention has focused on crude theft in the Niger Delta, the latest incidents suggest that criminal networks are increasingly targeting pipeline infrastructure in other parts of the country.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has clarified that the Federal Government has not approved Adire as the new uniform for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), saying reports suggesting otherwise were based on a misunderstanding of his earlier comments.
The clarification came after media reports claimed the minister had announced the replacement of the NYSC’s iconic khaki uniform with Adire during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday.
In a statement posted on his official social media account, Olawande explained that he only mentioned Adire and Ankara as examples of proposals currently being considered as part of the ongoing reforms of the NYSC scheme.
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“My attention has been drawn to some media reports following my brief appearance earlier this morning on Channels TV regarding the ongoing reforms of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), particularly on the issue of the proposed uniform,” he said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, yes, I mentioned Adire during the discussion. I also mentioned Ankara. My intention was simply to cite examples of some of the proposals that have been put forward in the course of our consultations. It was not an announcement that any particular fabric has been adopted or approved to replace the current NYSC uniform.”
The minister stressed that no final decision has been taken on the proposed uniform, noting that the government is still evaluating different options based on professional appearance, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness, national identity and the promotion of local industries.
“For the record, what we are considering are different options that tick all the right boxes in terms of professional outlook, a unique national identity, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness, and the projection of national pride,” Olawande said.
“No final decision has been taken on the fabric or design.”
During his earlier interview on Channels Television, Olawande had responded to a question on whether a new NYSC uniform would be produced locally by saying: “It’s Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun; we have them in Kwara; we have textile industries. Let’s put our money back into the country.”
The remark triggered widespread speculation that the Federal Government had officially approved Adire to replace the traditional khaki uniform worn by corps members.
However, the minister urged Nigerians not to allow the debate over the proposed uniform to overshadow the broader objectives of the ongoing reforms.
According to him, the reforms are aimed at making the NYSC scheme more relevant by improving the employability of corps members, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening national integration, enhancing service delivery and ensuring a smoother transition from education to productive careers.
“While conversations around the uniform are understandable, they should not overshadow the far-reaching reforms aimed at empowering millions of Nigerian youths and positioning the NYSC as a stronger platform for national development,” he added.
The Oyo State Government has directed all public schools across the state to intensify efforts to recover academic time lost during the recent industrial action triggered by the abduction of teachers and students in Orire Local Government Area.
The directive was issued on Thursday by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Olayiwola, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the ministry’s conference hall to develop a coordinated recovery plan for restoring normal academic activities.
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The meeting brought together representatives of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), the Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), and the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
Addressing stakeholders, Olayiwola stressed the need for urgent academic recovery, urging school administrators and teachers to prioritise effective teaching and learning to reduce the impact of the disruption.
“Schools must intensify efforts to recover the academic time lost during the industrial action. We cannot allow our students to be academically disadvantaged by the recent disruption,” he said.
The commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration to strengthening the education sector through policies that improve learning outcomes across the state.
“The Oyo State Government remains committed to providing the best learning environment for our students. Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration will continue to implement policies that enhance the quality of education across the state,” Olayiwola added.
Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Oyo State Civil Service Commission, Baale Kamorudeen Aderibigbe, commended teachers’ unions for suspending the industrial action in the interest of students.
“We appreciate the leadership of the teachers’ unions for putting the interest of students first by suspending the industrial action,” Aderibigbe said.
“Continued collaboration between government and education stakeholders is essential to moving the sector forward.” he added
However, representatives of the NUT, ANCOPSS and AOPSHON urged the state government to intensify efforts to secure the safe release of the teachers and students abducted in Orire Local Government Area.
The unions said, “We appeal to the government to sustain every effort toward the safe release of our abducted colleagues and students while we remain committed to supporting quality education in Oyo State.”
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Education Intervention, Suraju Tiamiyu, expressed optimism that the abducted teachers and students would soon regain their freedom.
“We are optimistic that the abducted teachers and students will soon regain their freedom. The government is making sustained efforts to ensure their safe release,” Tiamiyu said.
The industrial action was triggered by the abduction of teachers and students in Orire Local Government Area, disrupting academic activities in public schools before the strike was suspended.
With schools back in session, the Oyo State Government says recovering lost classroom hours remains a top priority while security agencies continue efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted victims.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of being “held hostage by fraudsters” following the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Presidency’s response to the scandal exposed what he described as a deep institutional crisis within the Federal Government.
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According to him, the government’s explanation that a private individual allegedly forged presidential documents, impersonated senior government officials, established an office inside the Federal Secretariat, opened bank accounts using government identities, and engaged foreign diplomats without insider support is difficult to believe.
He argued that rather than clearing the air, the Presidency’s defence had raised even more questions about the integrity of government institutions.
Atiku also questioned reports that about ₦1.3 billion was appropriated for the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Act, despite claims by the Presidency that the agency never officially existed.
The former vice president challenged the government to explain how an allegedly non-existent agency found its way into the national budget, asking which ministries, officials, National Assembly committees, and lawmakers processed and approved the allocation before it was signed into law.
He further criticised the National Assembly for failing to detect the alleged anomaly during the budget process and questioned the role of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing anti-graft agencies of selective enforcement.
Atiku maintained that regardless of whether the incident was the work of a sophisticated fraud syndicate or the result of institutional failure, the government must accept responsibility for allowing such a situation to occur.
While acknowledging that the individual at the centre of the controversy may face prosecution, he insisted that the Presidency must also account for the institutional lapses that allegedly enabled the activities.
Calling for an independent investigation, Atiku urged authorities to follow the evidence without political interference, insisting that no individual or institution should be shielded from scrutiny.
He added that the alleged fake agency saga has become another test of accountability and transparency in the Tinubu administration, urging Nigerians to demand answers from those entrusted with managing public institutions.
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