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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has paraded six suspected oil pipeline vandals arrested while allegedly vandalising a pipeline and siphoning Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Monica Ojobi, disclosed in a statement that the suspects were arrested on Saturday, July 18, 2026, during an intelligence-driven operation based on credible information and a tip-off.
She said NSCDC operatives swooped on an oil pipeline at Pagada I, Dubi Ward, Gwagwalada Area Council, where the suspects were allegedly caught scooping and loading PMS into jerrycans and plastic bags after puncturing the pipeline with a drilling machine.
The suspects were identified as Yakubu Yahaya, 29, a married man and local security operative from Tsauni Town, Gwagwalada; Garba Isah, 23, married, from Lambata Town in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State; Mohammed Abubakar, 24, single, from Angwa Kungo, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State; Yakubu Abdul, 20, single, from Agwada, Dubi Ward, Gwagwalada; Ibrahim Ishaku, 30, single, from Agwada, Gwagwalada Area Council; and Musa Abdulwahab, 20, single, from Pagada I Village, Dubi Ward.
According to Ojobi, the suspects were profiled upon arrival at the command headquarters, cautioned, and their statements recorded. She added that they were granted administrative bail to enable them contact their families and relatives while investigations continue.
She said efforts were ongoing to identify, trace and apprehend other members of the criminal network allegedly involved in the pipeline vandalism.
Ojobi listed exhibits recovered from the suspects as two motorcycles, four 25-litre jerrycans containing suspected PMS, two empty 25-litre jerrycans, one shovel, two locally fabricated firearms, and one hand drilling machine believed to have been used to puncture the pipeline.
She noted that all recovered items had been properly documented, secured and retained as exhibits to aid further investigation and prosecution.
Preliminary investigations, according to her, revealed that Yakubu Abdul, an indigene of Pagada I Village where the incident occurred, allegedly invited two of his friends from Lambata Town—Garba Isah and Mohammed Abubakar—to participate in the operation.
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She further disclosed that three vigilance members were also implicated, alleging that they provided security cover for the vandals, thereby enabling them to carry out the illegal activity without interference.
The command condemned all forms of vandalism of public infrastructure, describing such acts as economic sabotage capable of crippling the nation’s economy and threatening public safety.
“We condemn in strong terms any form of vandalism in the FCT, be it manhole covers, crash barriers, bridge aluminium, streetlights, armoured cables, transformers, railway sleepers and other public infrastructure. It is a deliberate act of economic sabotage intended to undermine and cripple our nation’s economy.
“The activities of these vandals not only contribute to petroleum products scarcity and environmental degradation but also expose residents and nearby farming communities to the risk of fire outbreaks and explosions,” the statement said.
Speaking on the arrest, the FCT Commandant, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, reaffirmed the NSCDC’s commitment to protecting critical national assets and infrastructure across the territory.
He warned that the command had intensified surveillance around critical infrastructure and would continue to clamp down on individuals involved in vandalism and other acts of economic sabotage.
“I want to reaffirm the NSCDC’s commitment as the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure to continue to clamp down on hoodlums and criminals who will not allow our infrastructure to function.
“We have intensified surveillance around all critical national assets and infrastructure in the FCT, and anyone caught destroying public infrastructure for selfish economic gain will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” Odumosu said.
The commandant also commended residents of Dobi Community for their cooperation with security operatives and urged other communities across the FCT to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies.
He disclosed that he had directed the Investigation Department to commence a comprehensive investigation aimed at establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident, identifying all accomplices, and ensuring that everyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
