The Taraba State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of five suspects for allegedly vandalising pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) in Ardo Kola Local Government Area of the state.
According to intelligence sources quoted by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, on Wednesday, the suspects were apprehended on Tuesday, September 23, in Zangon Kombi village during a sting operation by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit. Acting on credible intelligence, the officers reportedly stormed the site and caught the men in the act.
The suspects have been identified as Gambo Umar (30q), Sale Musa (38), Usama Zakar (22), Abdulwahab Ibrahim (25), and Shitu Mohammed (23), all residents of Gassol and Ardo Kola LGAs.
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Items recovered at the scene include 36 cut-to-size pipes, a generator, one digger, and two shovels, believed to have been used in the illegal activity.
The Police said that investigations are ongoing.