From Murphy Ganagana, Jos
A local vigilante group on Sunday averted vandalisation of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline in Benue State.
Seven suspects were arrested.
The hoodlums had dug out the trunk-line passing through Agida Village in Okpokwu Local Government Area and were about breaking it with heavy equipment when they were accosted by the vigilance men.
Sources said the paramount ruler of Okpokwu, Chief George Ali, had at 2 am reportedly placed a distress call to the police, which promptly dispatched patrol teams to the area.
On arrival at the scene, seven persons suspected to be vandals were arrested by the policemen, who also recovered some items including one generator, three long pipes, three shovels, two diggers, welding machine and a Golf car marked AH692MKD.
The identities of the suspects could not be ascertained as at Press time, but the police spokesman for the state command, ASP Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident.
“I am yet to be fully briefed on the incident, but I will avail you of developments as they unfold,” he said.