The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested three suspects over alleged vandalism of a Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipeline in the Federal Capital Territory.

The suspects were arrested while allegedly attempting to load sections of the vandalised pipeline into a truck in the Dafa area of Kwali.

They were identified as Maitama Inuwa, 30, the truck driver; Yahuza Danlami, 32, an assistant; and Yasir Abdulrahman, 26, who was allegedly representing buyers of the stolen pipeline materials.

The NSCDC said its operatives had been monitoring the area following reports that vandals had been cutting sections of the pipeline.

The suspects were reportedly arrested on September 20 while attempting to remove sections of the pipeline that had previously been cut and abandoned.

One truck loaded with the suspected stolen materials and 17 additional sections of vandalised pipeline were recovered during the operation.

The command said the pipeline supplies crude oil and petroleum products to the Kaduna Refinery and NNPC storage facilities across the country.

It said the suspects allegedly operated at night, cutting high-pressure pipelines into smaller sections for transportation and sale.

The NSCDC said the activities posed serious risks to lives and the environment, in addition to causing economic losses to the country.

Four other suspects allegedly linked to the operation are still at large, while investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the suspected network, including those allegedly financing the vandalism and purchasing the stolen materials.

The Corps urged residents living around pipeline corridors to report suspicious activities and movements around critical national infrastructure.

The suspects are expected to face prosecution after investigations are concluded.