Law enforcement officials from the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering, along with the IGP X-Squad, have taken seven individuals into custody and secured 285 segments of damaged Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipelines in Adamawa State.
Anietie Iniedu, the Force Public Relations Officer, announced the breakthrough on Tuesday. Acting on information gathered on July 9, 2026, officers stopped a J5 bus traveling on the Yola–Numan Road. The vehicle was occupied by Paul Joshua and Paul Ishiyaku at the time of the interception.
The subsequent investigation resulted in the detention of seven men: Haruna Usman, Haruna Muhammed Sule, Dabus Peter, Ahmad Adamu, Sadik Ibrahim, Paul Joshua, and Paul Ishiyaku. Officers also seized the blue J5 bus, bearing license plate KRD 767 XC, along with 285 pipeline pieces, six gas cylinders, and various excavation tools including shovels and diggers.
The suspects remain in police detention as authorities work to uncover the wider criminal network. Under the leadership of Inspector-General Olatunji Disu, the Nigeria Police Force maintains its focus on securing national infrastructure against economic sabotage. Authorities have requested that citizens continue to report suspicious activities to assist in protecting public assets.
