EDO GOVERNMENT, NSCDC NAB TWO SUSPECTED PIPELINE VANDALS IN EKPOMA, VOW TO SUSTAIN CRACKDOWN ON ECONOMIC SABOTAGE

Kingsley Ohens reporting

The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting critical national assets and ensuring the security of lives and property following the arrest of two suspected pipeline vandals in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state.

The arrest, which aligns with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda—particularly its emphasis on security, infrastructure protection, and public safety—was carried out during a joint operation involving the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Pipeline Surveillance and Security.

The suspects, identified as Kadiri Isah, 55, and Mustapha Naphiyu, 27, were apprehended at a cattle market in Idumabor, Ekpoma, following credible intelligence reports linking them to the alleged vandalism of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipelines and other critical national infrastructure.

According to security authorities, the suspects had been under sustained surveillance by the NSCDC Edo State Command before operatives successfully tracked and arrested them during the coordinated operation.

Preliminary investigations, security officials disclosed, have yielded valuable intelligence regarding the suspects’ alleged involvement in pipeline vandalism and related acts of economic sabotage. Efforts are currently underway to apprehend other members of the suspected criminal network and dismantle the wider syndicate operating within the state.

The Edo State Government noted that pipeline vandalism remains a significant threat to national development, adversely affecting energy security, government revenue generation, investor confidence, and overall economic stability.

Reaffirming the administration’s zero-tolerance policy toward criminality, the government emphasized its continued collaboration with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to safeguard public assets, protect critical infrastructure, and create a secure and enabling environment for residents, businesses, and investors.

The arrested suspects are expected to face prosecution in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Speaking on the operation, the NSCDC Edo State Command, under the leadership of Commandant Akintayo Saidi Ayinla, reiterated its unwavering commitment to protecting critical national assets and infrastructure across the state. The Command warned individuals engaged in pipeline vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage to desist from such activities, stressing that intelligence-led operations, surveillance mechanisms, and enforcement actions would continue to be intensified.

The Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC Edo State Command, CSC Ogbebor Efosa, further assured residents that the corps would sustain its collaboration with the Edo State Government and other security agencies to maintain peace, protect strategic infrastructure, and support sustainable development initiatives throughout the state.

The development underscores Governor Monday Okpebholo’s determination to strengthen security architecture across Edo State under his SHINE Agenda, while reinforcing the administration’s commitment to combating economic crimes and safeguarding critical national investments.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Edo State, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, disclosed the details of the operation in a statement issued on Sunday, noting that the administration remains resolute in its pursuit of a safer, more secure, and economically prosperous Edo State.