The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has disclosed that criminals disguising as a federal government task force were responsible for the theft of about nine kilometres of pipelines across its network in 2025.
The company said the incidents formed part of 19 recorded cases of pipeline vandalism and theft within the year, affecting major crude oil transport routes.
NNPC made the disclosure in a statement issued by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, on Thursday.
According to the statement, the affected sections include portions of the Enugu–Makurdi–Yola corridor and segments of the Warri–Kaduna crude oil pipeline.
The company said the findings emerged after a joint inspection of a vandalised section of the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC) crude oil pipeline located in Pai community, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The inspection was conducted by the NNPC Industry-Wide Security Architecture (IWSA), the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) Special Prosecution Team, the FCT Police Command, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.
NNPC explained that the visit followed the arrest of three suspected pipeline vandals in Piri and Pai communities during a coordinated operation involving security operatives and its internal security framework.
It said the suspects and their collaborators reportedly operated by impersonating officials of a so-called “Federal Government Task Force for Recovery of Abandoned Pipelines,” using the guise to gain access to communities and critical infrastructure.
“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 statement said.
The company added that the arrested suspects were part of a wider network involved in organised pipeline theft across the country.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bashir Ojulari, said the company was intensifying efforts to dismantle criminal syndicates targeting national energy assets.
Represented by Dahiru Sani-Gwarzo, Chief Interface Officer, Ojulari said security agencies were also working to identify sponsors and financiers behind the illegal activities.
He warned that pipeline vandalism poses a serious threat to national development, energy security and investor confidence in the oil and gas sector.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, said ongoing investigations had begun to uncover useful intelligence on those coordinating and benefiting from the stolen pipeline materials.
He assured that all individuals linked to the crime would be apprehended and prosecuted.
Director of Energy Security at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Goodluck Ebele, urged Nigerians to support security agencies with credible information to curb pipeline vandalism and economic sabotage.
He said community cooperation remained critical to safeguarding national infrastructure.
Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Sesi Whingan, pledged legislative backing for stronger measures to prevent pipeline vandalism and protect critical oil and gas assets nationwide.
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