The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has disclosed that it recorded 24 cases of pipeline theft across its network between 2025 and 2026, underscoring the unending threat posed by vandals to the country’s energy infrastructure.
The disclosure was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd., Andy Odeh, following a joint inspection of a vandalised section of the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company crude oil pipeline at Pai Community in the Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the statement, 19 cases of pipeline theft were reported in 2025, while five cases have been recorded so far in 2026.
The inspection was conducted by NNPC through its industry-wide security architecture and the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser Special Prosecution Team, the FCT Police Command, the Nigerian Army and other security stakeholders.
The visit followed the arrest of three suspected pipeline vandals in the Piri and Pai communities through a joint operation involving the aforementioned security team. NPSC, a subsidiary of NNPC, owns more than 5,000 kilometres of crude oil and petroleum products pipeline network across the country.
The company stated that pipeline theft across its network has been increasing since 2024, alleging that well-equipped criminals disguising themselves as “NNPC/Federal Government Taskforce for Recovery of Abandoned Pipelines” connive with locals to dig out and steal pipelines.
It added that about nine kilometres of pipeline sections were stolen in 2025 along the Enugu-Makurdi-Yola corridor and between Piri and Izom on the Warri-Kaduna pipeline route.
The company further disclosed that the five cases reported in 2026 occurred at Piri-Kwali and Gwagwalada along the Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline segment and at Badanga along the Jos-Gombe pipeline corridor.
Speaking during the inspection, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, who was represented by the Chief Interface Officer, Dahiru Sani-Gwarzo, described the arrests as an important step in a broader effort to dismantle criminal networks responsible for attacks on oil and gas infrastructure.
“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.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ahmed Sanusi, said the operation demonstrated the resolve of security agencies to protect critical national infrastructure and dismantle criminal syndicates involved in pipeline vandalism.
He disclosed that the suspects were apprehended following intensive intelligence gathering, surveillance operations and targeted patrols after reports of interference with sections of the pipeline.
According to him, investigations had already generated valuable leads regarding the sponsors and receivers of the vandalised materials, adding that all individuals connected to the crime would be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.