How fake FG task force stole 9km of pipelines In 2025 – NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has revealed that criminals disguising as a federal government task force stole about nine kilometres of pipelines across parts of its network in 2025.

The company said the thefts were recorded under 19 separate incidents involving pipeline vandalism across key oil transport corridors.

NNPC disclosed this in a statement signed by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, on Thursday.

According to the company, the stolen and damaged sections were located along the Enugu–Makurdi–Yola corridor as well as parts of the Warri–Kaduna crude oil pipeline network.

The national oil company said the development was uncovered during a joint inspection of a vandalised section of the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC) crude oil pipeline at Pai community in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The inspection was carried out by NNPC’s Industry-Wide Security Architecture (IWSA), the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) Special Prosecution Team, the FCT Police Command, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

NNPC said the visit followed the arrest of three suspected pipeline vandals in the Piri and Pai communities during a coordinated operation involving security operatives and its security architecture.

It explained that criminals had been posing as officials of a “Federal Government Task Force for Recovery of Abandoned Pipelines” to deceive communities and gain access to critical infrastructure.

“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 statement said.

It added that the arrested suspects were part of a broader criminal network responsible for pipeline vandalism and theft.

NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, said efforts were ongoing to dismantle the syndicates behind the attacks on oil and gas infrastructure.

Represented by Dahiru Sani-Gwarzo, Chief Interface Officer of the company, Ojulari said security agencies were also tracking the sponsors and financiers of the illegal operations.

He said: “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.”

Ojulari warned that pipeline vandalism undermines national security, economic stability and investor confidence in the energy sector.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, said investigations had already begun yielding intelligence on those sponsoring and benefiting from the stolen pipeline materials.

He assured that all individuals linked to the crime would be tracked and prosecuted.

Also speaking, Director of Energy Security at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Goodluck Ebele, urged Nigerians to support security agencies with credible information to curb pipeline vandalism.

He said public cooperation was essential in protecting national assets and strengthening energy security.

Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Sesi Whingan, pledged the National Assembly’s support for stronger legal and regulatory measures to deter pipeline vandalism across the country.