The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Benue command, has arrested 11 suspected NNPC pipeline vandals at the Apir Depot in Makurdi.

Yakubu Ibrahim, NSCDC commandant in Benue, stated this on Friday, when he conducted journalists round the depot to see the level of destruction to the pipeline (Yola line) by vandals.

The commandant said that the arrest of the suspects followed credible intelligence and the dispatch of a team from anti-vandal and rapid response squad units on May 14.

“On reaching the scene that day, the vandals, who probably got wind of our men’s coming, went into hiding.

“That day some of their working equipment, two shovels, one small hoe, one red Jincheng motorcycle and 16 pieces of 10 feets NNPC pipelines were recovered from them.

“However, today luck ran out on them and they were caught in the act,’’ he said.

Mr Ibrahim said that such massive destruction of national assets had been going on for a while, and no resident of the Apir community reported the matter.

He alleged that they were complicit in the activities of the vandals.

“We have farmers, residents, youths and community leaders in this area and the act has gone on for months.

“They chose to remain silent, so they are accomplices in this crime and they cannot go scot-free.

“We will not rest until we arrest the masterminds of this crime because they are no longer satisfied with stealing what is in the pipeline, but now digging out the whole pipeline to sell them for peanuts.

“Whoever is involved in this dastardly act is out to knock down the economy of the nation so he must be brought to book,’’ he said.

He said the command has deployed plain clothes officers to keep surveillance on the pipeline, adding that they would carry out periodic raids in the area to forestall further activities of vandals.

(NAN)