Suspected 19 Pipeline Vandals Nabbed in Abia

Boniface Okoro in Umuahia

Suspected 19 pipeline vandals have been nabbed by operatives of the Nigerian Army at Nkwonta axis along Isuikwuato – Abia State University (ABSU) road in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State.

The suspects were arrested by troops of the 143 Rangers Battalion, Ovim, while loading vandalized pipes of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) pipelines which pass through the area into a truck.

After their arrest on October 24, the army subsequently handed over the suspects to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Umuahia for further investigation and prosecution.

Commander, 143 Rangers Battalion, Ovim, Lt. Col. A. M. Rabe, during an interview, said the arrest followed a three-month long sustained intelligence gathering, routine patrols and series of ambushes.

“On 24th October 2026, following sustained intelligence gathering, follow-up operations and series of ambush conducted by our troops deployed at Uturu response area, we arrested 19 pipeline vandals at Nkwonta in Isuikwuato LGA of Abia State. The suspects were arrested vandalizing pipelines through ambush and proper intelligence gathering,” Rabe said.

He explained the operation is part of the ongoing effort to protect critical national infrastructure and combat pipeline vandalism in the general area of responsibility of the battalion.

According to him, troops had been trailing the activities of the vandals for about three months, mounting ambushes and patrols in collaboration with other security agencies and local government authorities.

Rabe disclosed that the suspects attempted to bribe troops with N1 million to allow them to continue their illegal activities, but the offer was rejected.

“Actually, you are right because initially before we arrested them they offered us a sum of N1 million so that they would conduct their activities there. And due to the techniques we used, we also allowed them to present that money which we are going to hand over to the next authority for further investigation and appropriate legal actions,” he said.

He added that there were further attempts to secure the release of the suspects after arrest, which were also turned down. He assured that the Army remains committed to working with relevant security agencies to protect national assets and ensure safety of lives and property.

On whether a police officer was among the suspects, the Commander said no identity of a policeman was established at the point of arrest.

“I did not arrest him with any identity to be a policeman, whether uniform or with ID card, but for now he is a criminal. With further investigation, it will be rectified whether he is a police officer or not. We have done our own part,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the NSCDC and other legal authorities would ensure justice is served, saying pipeline vandalism is a matter of national concern that will not be treated lightly.

Reacting to the arrest, the Mayor of Isuikwuato LGA and Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Abia State, Mr. Chinedu Ekeke, commended the Army for the breakthrough.

“What brought me here was the remarkable success made by the Army in the arrest of vandals who have been going about vandalizing public assets around Isuikwuato. A few days before the arrest, I had issued a public notice personally signed by me, warning parents and community leaders to talk to their children to stop vandalizing public assets,” Ekeke said.

He listed pipelines, high tension cables and even roofing sheets at a piggery project being built by the council as some of the assets targeted by vandals in the area, lamenting that the hoodlums “are becoming more audacious by the day and that is why I am very much impressed with what the Army has done today.”

The 19 suspects comprised of 13 loaders, two cutters, three drivers and a conductor.

The cut pipes were loaded into a trailer which the army also handed over to the NSCDC.

Some of the suspects, who spoke during the parade, gave conflicting accounts of their involvement. The loaders said they were told that they were going to load scraps and had refused to work when they were shown the pipes but their leader lied to them that the army was aware.

The driver of the truck said one Benjamin contact him to go and convey scraps from Isuikwuato to Aba. He and the loaders claimed that someone contacted them on behalf of one Jambo who they said was a scrap dealer.