The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has uncovered a new dimension to the country’s pipeline vandalism crisis, revealing that criminal syndicates posing as members of a purported Federal Government task force have stolen about nine kilometres of oil pipelines across parts of the country.

The company disclosed that 24 cases of pipeline vandalism have been recorded along sections of the Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline corridor since 2025.

The revelation emerged during a joint inspection of a vandalised pipeline section at Pai Community in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The inspection was conducted by NNPC Ltd, through its Industry-Wide Security Architecture and subsidiary, the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), alongside the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) Special Prosecution Team, the FCT Police Command, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

According to a statement issued by NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the exercise followed the arrest of three suspected pipeline vandals in the Piri and Pai communities.

“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 Industry-Wide Security Architecture,” the statement said.

NNPC explained that the NPSC manages more than 5,000 kilometres of crude oil and petroleum products pipelines nationwide but has witnessed a rise in vandalism incidents since 2024.

The company alleged that well-equipped criminals have been masquerading as members of an “NNPC/Federal Government Task Force for Recovery of Abandoned Pipelines” and working with locals to excavate and steal pipeline infrastructure.

According to the statement, 19 cases were recorded in 2025, resulting in the theft of about 9km of pipelines along the Enugu-Makurdi-Yola corridor and between Piri and Izom on the Warri-Kaduna pipeline route.

NNPC added that five additional cases have already been reported in 2026 at Piri-Kwali, Gwagwalada and Badanga along the Jos-Gombe pipeline corridor.

The affected pipelines serve as a key route for transporting crude oil from the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company to the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.

Speaking during the inspection, NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, represented by Chief Interface Officer Dahiru Sani-Gwarzo, described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in efforts to curb economic sabotage.

“Our focus remains on identifying and bringing to justice the masterminds and sponsors behind these criminal activities,” he said.

He warned that pipeline vandalism not only causes huge economic losses but also threatens national development, energy security and investor confidence.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, said investigations have already generated useful intelligence on the sponsors and buyers of stolen pipeline materials.

“We want to assure Nigerians that all individuals connected to these criminal activities will be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he said.

Officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Army and the National Assembly also pledged continued support for efforts to protect critical energy infrastructure and strengthen penalties for economic sabotage.