The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested two suspected pipeline vandals in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, as part of efforts to protect critical national infrastructure and strengthen security across the state.
The suspects, identified as Kadiri Isah, 55, and Mustapha Naphiyu, 27, were apprehended during a joint operation involving the NSCDC and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Edo State Governor on Pipeline Surveillance and Security.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, the suspects were arrested at a cattle market in Idumabor, Ekpoma, following intelligence reports linking them to the alleged vandalism of NNPC oil pipelines and other critical national assets.
The statement said the suspects had been under surveillance by the NSCDC Edo State Command before operatives tracked and arrested them.
It added that preliminary investigations had yielded useful information regarding the suspects’ alleged involvement in the criminal activities, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the suspected syndicate and dismantle the wider network behind pipeline vandalism in the state.
The government described pipeline vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage as serious threats to development, noting that such crimes undermine energy supply, reduce government revenue and erode investor confidence.
According to the statement, the Edo State Government has continued to collaborate with security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to combat criminal activities, safeguard public infrastructure and create a secure environment for residents, businesses and investors.
The statement further disclosed that the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Reaffirming the commitment of the NSCDC to protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, the Edo State Command, under the leadership of Commandant Akintayo Saidi Ayinla, warned individuals involved in pipeline vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage to desist, stressing that intelligence gathering, surveillance and enforcement operations would be sustained across the state.
The spokesman for the NSCDC Edo State Command, CSC Ogbebor Efosa, also reiterated the corps’ commitment to working with the Edo State Government and other security agencies to maintain peace, protect critical infrastructure and support sustainable development in the state.
