Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Rising cases of pipeline vandalism across north central Nigeria’s oil and gas network have triggered fresh concerns over energy security, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd, revealing that attacks on critical petroleum infrastructure have continued to increase despite intensified security operations.
The alarming trend came to the fore as NNPC Ltd, through its Industry-Wide Security Architecture, IWSA, alongside the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, Special Prosecution Team, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, inspected a vandalised section of the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company, NPSC, crude oil pipeline at Pai Community in Kwali Area Council of Abuja.
The inspection followed the arrest of three suspected pipeline vandals in Piri and Pai communities, where security operatives uncovered evidence of ongoing attacks on the nation’s strategic energy infrastructure.
NNPC disclosed that pipeline theft across the NPSC network has been on the rise since 2024, with well-organised criminal groups allegedly disguising themselves as “NNPC/Federal Government Taskforce for Recovery of Abandoned Pipelines” while collaborating with local accomplices to excavate and steal pipeline sections.
According to the company, NPSC owns more than 5,000 kilometres of crude oil and petroleum products pipelines nationwide, making it one of the country’s most critical energy infrastructure assets.
The scale of the vandalism has become increasingly worrying. NNPC reported that in 2025 alone, 19 cases of pipeline theft were recorded, leading to the theft of about nine kilometres of pipeline sections along the Enugu-Makurdi-Yola corridor and between Piri and Izom on the Warri-Kaduna pipeline route.
The trend has continued into 2026, with five fresh cases already reported at Piri-Kwali and Gwagwalada along the Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline corridor, as well as at Badanga on the Jos-Gombe pipeline axis.
Speaking during the inspection, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, represented by Chief Interface Officer, Mr. Dahiru Sani-Gwarzo, described pipeline vandalism as a direct threat to Nigeria’s economy, energy security and investment climate.
“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,” he said.
Ojulari stressed that security agencies were now focused on uncovering the masterminds and financiers behind the criminal activities.
“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,” he stated.
The NNPC boss assured that the company would sustain collaboration with security agencies to ensure that pipeline vandals and their sponsors are apprehended and prosecuted.
Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, said intelligence-led operations had played a key role in the recent arrests.
He explained that the suspects were apprehended following extensive surveillance and targeted patrols launched after reports of interference with sections of the crude oil pipeline.
According to him, investigations have already yielded valuable intelligence on the criminal network behind the vandalism.
“Investigations have generated valuable leads regarding the sponsors and receivers of the vandalized materials, and all individuals connected to the crime will be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” Sanusi said.
Also speaking, Director of Energy Security at ONSA, Mr. Goodluck Ebele, called on Nigerians to assist security agencies with credible information, noting that community support remains critical in the fight against economic sabotage.
Representing the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. J.O. Ajongbo reaffirmed the military’s commitment to protecting oil and gas infrastructure, while Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Hon. Sesi Whingan, pledged legislative backing for stronger deterrent measures against pipeline vandalism.
The latest discoveries underscore the persistent challenge facing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry as government intensifies efforts to curb crude oil theft and protect strategic infrastructure essential to sustaining production, revenues and investor confidence.
