The disclosure followed a joint inspection of a vandalised crude oil pipeline segment at Pai Community in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory by NNPC Ltd, its subsidiary, the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company, security agencies and officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The exercise came after the arrest of three suspected vandals in Piri and Pai communities during a coordinated security operation.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, the company said the inspection was conducted to determine the extent of damage to the affected facility, support ongoing investigations and strengthen efforts to tackle attacks on critical energy infrastructure.
The statement read: “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited through the Industry Wide Security Architecture and Nigerian Pipelines & Storage Company in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser Special Prosecution Team, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, the Nigerian Army and other security stakeholders, on Tuesday conducted a joint inspection of a vandalised section of the NPSC crude oil pipeline at Pai Community in Kwali Area Council of the FCT, Abuja.
“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 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’s Industry-Wide Security Architecture.”
Odeh explained that NPSC manages more than 5,000 kilometres of crude oil and petroleum products pipelines nationwide, but noted that attacks on the network have escalated in recent years.
“NPSC, a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd, owns more than 5,000km of crude oil and petroleum products pipeline network. Pipeline theft across NPSC’s network has been on the increase since 2024.
“Well-equipped criminals disguising themselves as the ‘NNPC/Federal Government Taskforce for Recovery of Abandoned Pipelines’ connive with locals to dig out and steal these pipelines,” the statement noted.
According to the company, 19 incidents of pipeline theft were recorded in 2025, leading to the loss of about nine kilometres of pipeline infrastructure.
“In 2025, a total of 19 cases were reported, with about 9km of pipeline section stolen along the Enugu-Makurdi-Yola corridor and between Piri and Izom along the Warri-Kaduna pipeline corridors.
“So far in 2026, five cases have been reported at Piri-Kwali and Gwagwalada along the Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline segment and at Badanga along the Jos-Gombe pipeline corridor,” it added.
The affected pipeline serves as a major channel for transporting crude oil from the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company to the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.
Speaking during the inspection, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Ojulari, represented by the Chief Interface Officer, Dahiru Sani-Gwarzo, described the arrests as a significant step in tackling pipeline vandalism.
“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.
“Beyond the significant economic losses they cause, such acts undermine national development, energy security and investor confidence.
“We will continue to work closely with our security partners to ensure these crimes are decisively addressed,” he said.
Also commenting, the Commissioner of Police in the FCT, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, said the arrests reflected the commitment of security agencies to protecting strategic national assets.