The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory Command, has arrested three suspects over the alleged vandalism of an NNPC petroleum pipeline in Dafa, Kwali Area Council, Abuja.
The suspects were arrested following an intelligence-led surveillance operation carried out by the NSCDC tactical team in collaboration with members of a local vigilante group.
The FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the corps’ Kwali Divisional Office.
Odumosu said the operation followed credible intelligence about suspected vandalism activities along the pipeline Right of Way in the area.
According to him, the tactical team had conducted prolonged surveillance of the location after receiving information about the activities of suspected vandals.
He said operatives initially arrived at the scene after the pipeline had already been cut, prompting the suspects to flee and abandon the severed sections of the petroleum pipeline.
The commandant explained that the pipeline is used to transport crude oil and petroleum products to the Kaduna Refinery and NNPC depots across the country.
He said the NSCDC subsequently intensified patrols and monitoring of the area in an effort to prevent the suspects from returning for the abandoned pipeline sections.
According to Odumosu, the suspects later returned to the location to retrieve the materials they had abandoned.
He said the surveillance operation eventually yielded results on September 20, 2026, when the suspects allegedly returned and attempted to load the severed 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,” Odumosu said.
The commandant identified the arrested suspects as Maitama Inuwa, Yahuza Danlami and Yasir Abdulrahman.
He said the suspects were taken into custody for further investigation, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the alleged vandalism group who escaped from the scene.
Odumosu reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure in the FCT and urged residents to continue providing security agencies with credible information that could assist in preventing vandalism and other criminal activities.
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