Six Arrested for Stealing 30km of Warri–Kaduna Pipeline as Edo Task Force Uncovers Widespread Sabotage, Land Grabbing
The Edo State Task Force on Recovery of Government Property has arrested six suspects in connection with the theft of 30 kilometers of pipeline from the Warri–Kaduna crude oil transport line at Ekperi, in Etsako Central Local Government Area.
Chairman of the task force, Eugene Okolosie, made this known on Wednesday in Benin City, while presenting a report on recent anti-vandalism operations.
According to Okolosie, the suspects allegedly used excavators to uproot the underground pipes, which were designed to transport crude oil from Warri to the Kaduna refinery.
He noted that some stolen segments had been recovered, and investigations were ongoing to determine the extent of community collusion in the heist.
“This act of sabotage has caused severe damage to a critical national infrastructure,” Okolosie stated. “We suspect that some community members may have been complicit in facilitating this crime.”
In related operations, the task force also arrested; five suspects at Uhuoghun, Orhionmwon LGA, for vandalising agricultural tractors and heavy government equipment, five others at Okpella, for stealing high-tension electricity infrastructure.
Beyond theft and vandalism, Okolosie raised alarm over rampant land encroachment and illegal sales of government-owned land, especially school and forest reserves.
The task force has so far recovered 480 hectares of land illegally sold across the state.
“In Sobe, for example, reserved forest areas planted with Melina and teak trees were cleared and replaced with plantain farms by illegal occupants,” he said. “This illegal occupation has been going on for over eight years.”
He also cited Ewomama Community, where land originally designated for a civic centre, school, and market had been sold off. However, the state government has successfully reclaimed those properties.
Okolosie emphasized that educational lands have been a particular target, stating, “There is hardly any school in Edo State that has not suffered encroachment. In Uromi, a private school was even built inside a public school compound.”
He warned land buyers to beware of fraudsters impersonating task force members and commended the Edo State Government for supporting the ongoing recovery mission.
“Anyone who attacks the education system by grabbing school lands is attacking the future of the community,” Okolosie concluded.
