The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FCT Command, has arrested three persons for allegedly vandalising 17 petroleum pipelines in the Dafa, Kwali Area Council of the territory.

The NSCDC FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, briefed journalists of the arrest on Wednesday at the vandalism scene in Kwali.

Mr Odumosu said that preliminary investigations indicated that the vandals operated in remote and forested areas where petroleum pipelines transited through the FCT.

He said, “When it’s dark, they deliberately dig up and cut these high-pressure pipelines into sizeable pieces for easy loading into their trucks.”

Mr Odumosu said that the NSCDC, after receiving credible actionable intelligence reports regarding pipeline right-of-way vandalism in the locality, planted surveillance at the crime scene before the eventual arrest of the suspects.

“Our operatives intensified surveillance through monitoring and patrolling of the location, but upon sighting our men, the suspected vandals fled from the scene of the crime and abandoned the already severed petroleum pipelines.

“However, the monitoring activities paid off on September 20 when the suspects allegedly returned to the area and attempted to load the earlier abandoned iron pipes into a truck.

“NSCDC operatives on surveillance, supported by members of the vigilance group swiftly moved in and arrested three of the suspects while some other members of the gang reportedly escaped into the surrounding bush,” he said.

He said that vandalism does not only cause massive economic losses to the country but also poses an immediate risk of catastrophic explosions and environmental degradation.

“This successful operation has effectively disrupted a major network responsible for sabotaging the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd pipelines, originally built to supply crude oil and other petroleum products to the Kaduna refinery and other depots across the country,” Mr Odumosu said.

The commandant said that the arrested suspects had been subjected to preliminary investigation, intense profiling and would be granted administrative bail after they fulfill the stipulated conditions.

“Preliminary investigation by the Intelligence and Investigation Department in the command has also identified others allegedly connected with the activities, including four suspects whose names were mentioned and are currently at large.

“The investigation further indicates the possible existence of an organised criminal network involved in the vandalism, movement and illicit sale of components removed from the pipeline right of way,” he said.

Mr Odumosu noted that exhibit recovered from the suspects include one long commercial truck loaded with 17 vandalised NNPC petroleum pipes.

He said the corps would work tirelessly to identify the end-buyers and sponsors bankrolled to sabotage the economy.

He further assured the public that the investigation would be conducted professionally, transparently and in accordance with the law.

“Anyone found to have participated in, facilitated or benefited from the alleged criminal activities shall be prosecuted before a court of competent jurisdiction,” he stated.

The command head also assured that the corps, alongside sister agencies, would intensify efforts to apprehend other suspects currently at large.

He said that there would be collaborative efforts to further prevent attacks on critical national assets and infrastructure within the FCT.

The commandant appreciated the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, for supporting the activities of the command in ensuring that the FCT was crime-free.

He also appreciated his personnel, Kwali leadership and residents for their support.

The FCT NSCDC helmsman called on residents in the territory to support the to tackle insecurity, urging that credible information and suspicious activities should be reported to security agencies in due time.

The representative of the Kwali Area Council, Aliyu Zagana, appreciated the efforts of the corps in savaging the community of vandals.

Mr Zagana said that the community, through its vigilance groups, over the years tried to curb criminality in the area.

He advised vandals to desist from the illegal activities.

(NAN)