Police arrest 7 in Adamawa pipeline vandalism bust, recover 285 NNPCL pipes — full list of names

Gloria Adesanya 09:39 - 22 July 2026

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Inspector-General of Police IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu (left); paraded pipeline vandalism suspects alongside recovered NNPCL pipes and equipment in Adamawa State (right).

Police have arrested seven suspected pipeline vandals in Adamawa State and recovered 285 pieces of NNPCL pipeline, gas cylinders, and other tools during a joint operation. See full list of names.

Police arrested seven suspected members of a pipeline vandalism syndicate during a joint operation along the Yola–Numan Road in Adamawa State.

Authorities recovered 285 vandalised NNPCL pipeline pieces, a blue J5 bus, six gas cylinders, diggers, shovels, and other excavation tools.

The July 9, 2026 interception of two suspects led police to five additional arrests as investigations continue into the wider network.

Operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering, in collaboration with the IGP X-Squad, have arrested seven suspected members of a pipeline vandalism syndicate in Adamawa State.

The operation, carried out under the leadership and directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, began with the interception of a blue J5 bus along the Yola–Numan Road on July 9, 2026.

Tunji Disu, the Inspector General of Police.

Tunji Disu, Inspector General of Police.

According to the Nigeria Police Force, the vehicle with registration number KRD 767 XC was intercepted while conveying vandalised Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) pipelines.

At the time of the interception, Paul Joshua, 49, was driving the vehicle, while Paul Ishiyaku, 48, was accompanying him.

Police said the arrest and subsequent interrogation of the two suspects led operatives to the remaining five suspects:

Paraded suspects standing behind recovered NNPCL pipes, gas cylinders, and diggers in Adamawa State.

Suspected members of the pipeline vandalism ring paraded alongside recovered NNPCL pipes and cutting equipment in Adamawa.

Haruna Usman, 28

Haruna Muhammed Sule, 30

Dabus Peter, 38

Ahmad Adamu, 19

Sadik Ibrahim, 31.

A Nigeria Police officer inspecting a pile of recovered NNPCL pipes at the crime scene along Yola-Numan road.

A police officer inspecting vandalised NNPCL pipes recovered along the Yola–Numan Road joint operation site.

The joint operation led to the recovery of 285 vandalised pieces of NNPCL pipelines and the confiscation of several tools believed to have been used in cutting and excavating the pipelines.

Gas cylinders, pickaxes, and excavation tools recovered by the Nigeria Police from the Adamawa pipeline vandalism syndicate.

Recovered gas cylinders, pickaxes, diggers, and heavy equipment used for pipeline vandalism in Adamawa State.

Police also recovered six gas cylinders, diggers, shovels, and other dismantled equipment allegedly used by the suspects during the illegal operation.

The latest operation adds to ongoing efforts by Nigerian security agencies to combat pipeline vandalism and protect critical oil infrastructure.

The official statement was released on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu.

He said the seven suspects remain in custody while investigations continue to uncover the full scope of the pipeline vandalism network and identify any additional collaborators involved in the act of economic sabotage.

The Nigeria Police Force added that the operation demonstrates ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat illegal bunkering, protect critical national infrastructure, and curb economic sabotage in Nigeria.