The fight against pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering has recorded a huge success as the Nigerian police force has arrested a total of seven suspects alongside the recovery of 285 pieces of vandalised Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipelines in Adamawa State.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, on Tuesday, says the operation was undertaken by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering in collaboration with the IGP X-Squad.
The statement revealed that feat followed credible intelligence received on July 9, 2026, that led officers to intercept a J5 bus loaded with suspected vandalised NNPC pipelines along the Yola–Numan Road in Adamawa State.
While disclosing that the vehicle was driven by Paul Joshua, with Paul Ishiyaku as a passenger, the statement named the seven suspects subsequently arrested to include Haruna Usman, 28; Haruna Muhammed Sule, 30; Dabus Peter, 38; Ahmad Adamu, 19; Sadik Ibrahim, 31; Paul Joshua, 49; and Paul Ishiyaku, 48.
Items recovered during the operation include 285 pieces of vandalised pipelines, six gas cylinders, diggers, shovels, a blue J5 bus with registration number KRD 767 XC, and other equipment believed to have been used in carrying out the criminal activities.
According to the police all recovered exhibits have been secured, while the suspects remain in custody pending the conclusion of investigations aimed at uncovering the full extent of the vandalism network and identifying other accomplices.
