Police Arrest 9 Pipeline Vandals In Taraba

The Taraba State Police Command has arrested nine suspects in connection with the vandalisation of oil pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The suspects, who were between the ages of 19 and 26, were apprehended along the Kona Mountains and Minda axis in Jalingo, the state capital.

According to the statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, James Lashen Saminu, the suspects were apprehended on September 15, 2025, at about 10:13 a.m., following a tip-off.

“The operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, led by CSP Ayuba Yohanna, were swiftly dispatched to the scene where the suspects were reportedly caught in the act.”

The statement gave names of the arrested suspects to include: Lagne Apollos, 20, Isa Aminu, 20, Ahmad Aminu, 15 and Kamal Abubakar, 25.

Others are Solomon Tanko, 20, Simon Mathias, 19, Victor Kanu, 26, Dogara Patrick, 21 and Emmanuel Apollos, 20

The police said the command also recovered several exhibits from the suspects during the raid.

The exhibits included 30 cut-to-size pipes, three long welding cylinders, two short gas cylinders, two shovels, three chains and scissors, and three hammers.

The Police spokesman noted that the suspects and the recovered items were in custody for further investigation and assured the public of the Command’s commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure in the state.