The police have arrested seven suspected pipeline vandals and recovered 285 pieces of vandalised Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipelines along the Yola–Numan Road in Adamawa State.

A statement by Anietie Edem Iniedu, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Police Force, on Tuesday said the suspects were arrested on July 9, 2026.

“Acting on credible intelligence received on 9th July 2026, operatives intercepted a J5 bus fully loaded with suspected vandalised NNPC pipelines along the Yola–Numan Road in Adamawa State,” he said. 

He said the vehicle was driven by one of the suspects, Paul Joshua, and accompanied by Paul Ishiyaku.

Mr Iniedu identified the suspects as Haruna Usman, 28; Haruna Muhammed Sule, 30; Dabus Peter, 38; Ahmad Adamu, 19; Sadik Ibrahim, 31; Paul Joshua, 49; and Paul Ishiyaku, 48.

“Two hundred and eighty-five (285) pieces of vandalised pipelines, six (6) gas cylinders, diggers, shovels, one J5 bus with registration number KRD 767 XC, blue in colour, and other equipment suspected to have been used in the commission of the crime,” he said. 

He added that all the recovered exhibits had been secured as evidence.

“The suspects are currently in police custody, while investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the criminal enterprise and identify other individuals connected to the vandalism network,” he said.