Posted by Chinenye on Tue 21st Jul, 2026 - tori.ng
A major operation in Adamawa has uncovered a suspected illegal petroleum network, leaving security operatives with a significant recovery and several arrests
(pipeline vandalism. Photo credit: ProgressView)
Operatives of the Nigeria Police under the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering, alongside the IGP X-Squad, have arrested seven suspects and recovered 285 vandalised Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipelines in Adamawa State.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, on Tuesday.
Iniedu said that acting on credible intelligence received on July 9, 2026, operatives intercepted a J5 bus fully loaded with suspected vandalised NNPC pipelines along the Yola–Numan Road in Adamawa State.
According to him, the vehicle was driven by one Paul Joshua and accompanied by Paul Ishiyaku.
He added that the operation subsequently led to the arrest of seven suspects identified as Haruna Usman, 28; Haruna Muhammed Sule, 30; Dabus Peter, 38; Ahmad Adamu, 19; Sadik Ibrahim, 31; Paul Joshua, 49; and Paul Ishiyaku, 48.
Iniedu stated that further searches conducted during the operation led to the recovery of 285 pieces of vandalised pipelines, six gas cylinders, diggers, shovels, one blue J5 bus with registration number KRD 767 XC.
And other equipment suspected to have been used in the commission of the crime, adding that all recovered exhibits have since been secured as evidence.