
Crime
How Nigeria lost N898.93bn in 9 months to pipeline vandalism


The sabotage of oil installations and the resultant repairs of pipelines have depleted Nigeria’s income by N898.93bn this year, Okechukwu Nnodim reports
Between January and September 2021, Nigeria lost N898.93bn to crude oil losses and repairs of vandalised pipelines, among others, documents obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited showed.
Also, it was gathered that the oil firm deducted a total of N1.78tn from its remittances to the Federation Account Allocation Committee during the 10-month period.
Data from 10 various NNPC reports indicated that the reasons for the repeated product losses and its attendant value shortfall include sabotage on oil installations and pipelines, community interference, production shutdown, etc.
The October 2021 report of the oil firm to FAAC, for instance, stated that Seplat (Jisike) terminal suspended crude oil production due to sabotage on it Izombe-Ebocha line.
The report further showed that the shutdown dragged on from July 21 to August 8, 2021 and led to the halt in the production of thousands of barrels of crude.
Similarly, in the NNPC’s September 2021 presentation to FAAC, it stated that the Energia terminal injection of crude into Brass line was suspended from July 1 to 31 due to pipeline damage.
It further stated that third party interference on Nigeria Agip Oil Company Akiri pipeline led to the suspension of Pillar terminal injection into Brass.
Monthly revenue plunge
An analysis of the monthly losses beginning from January this year revealed that the country had been losing humongous sums as a result of crude oil losses and pipeline repairs.
The NNPC’s presentation to FAAC in February showed that nothing was expended on pipeline repairs in January, as there was also no record on product losses and value shortfall in same month.
But in March, the oil firm told FAAC that it spent N4.19bn in the preceding month on the repairs of pipelines, adding that crude oil valued at N26.99bn was lost in the same month.
In its April presentation, the company said repairs and management of pipelines gulped N3.68bn in March, while total product losses and value shortfall was put at N62.03bn.
The report presented to FAAC in May showed that N1.68bn was spent on fixing pipelines in the preceding month and during the same month, the NNPC recorded N62.93bn product losses.
In its presentation in June, the NNPC said a total of N4.15bn was used for pipeline repairs from its receipts in May, while total product losses and value shortfall were N127.41bn.
Data from the July report showed that N4.53bn was used to fix and manage pipelines in June and product losses in same month were put at N165.98bn.
Figures contained in the presentation to FAAC in August indicated that N3.66bn was spent in repairing pipelines in July, while oil products valued at N106.98bn was lost.
The September report showed that nothing was expended in the preceding month on pipeline repairs, but product losses and value shortfall were put at N173.13bn.
The NNPC’s October 2021 records showed that the total pipeline repairs and management cost in September was N629.28m, while total product losses and value shortfall during same period were N150.96bn.
Resultant FAAC deductions
The oil company explained that the above developments were contributory to the massive deductions in its monthly remittances to FAAC.
Its October 2021 presentation to the committee, for instance, showed that the deductions from September receipts include funds for joint venture recovery, cost spent on pipeline repairs and product losses in the month, as this was put at N299.1bn.
In its September report to FAAC, the NNPC said it deducted N277.64bn from August’s receipts, while its deductions in July was N181.1bn.
In April, May and June, it deducted N140.49bn, N255.88bn and N277.18bn respectively from its remittances to FAAC.
Also in January, February and March this year, the oil firm’s deductions from its remittances to FAAC were N83.29bn, N110.75bn and N153.27bn respectively.
Commenting on the development, a former Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Muda Yusuf, described the situation as sad and highly counter-productive economically.
He noted that if the development was not nipped in the bud, it would further worsen the already sorry state of Nigeria’s economy.
Yusuf, who is the chief executive officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises, called for the strengthening of surveillance through the use of drones and the deployment of other forms of technology.
He said, “If there is any way we can strengthen surveillance around our infrastructure, I think we should do that. We have to use technology and deploy drones to ensure that there is proper surveillance around these critical infrastructure.”
PUNCH.
Crime
End of the Road: Man Dies While Attempting to Steal Transformer Cables

A young man suspected of attempting to steal cables from a transformer was found dead after reportedly being electrocuted along Trademore Road in Lugbe, Abuja, in the early hours of Friday.
The deceased was reportedly found crouched and lifeless near the transformer, with his body said to have become stiff, suggesting he may have been electrocuted when power was restored.
Residents said there had been no electricity supply in the area on Thursday night before the incident occurred.
The discovery attracted a crowd of residents, who expressed concern over the increasing activities of cable vandals in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
Rasheed Ogunyemi, a resident of Iddo Seriki along the Airport Road, said residents in his area often contribute money to repair their transformer, only for vandals to return and cut the cables.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident, stating that the deceased’s body had been evacuated and deposited at a mortuary in Gwagwalada for autopsy.
Crime
Over 60 Worshippers Abducted as Terrorists Attack Niger Mosque During Prayer

More than 60 worshippers are feared to have been kidnapped from the Central Mosque in Dekara town, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, during Jumu’at prayers on Friday.
The incident occurred when suspected terrorists, said to be operating in large numbers, stormed the mosque while the prayers were ongoing.
According to sources, the attackers fired several shots before rounding up some of the worshippers and taking them into the surrounding forest.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Borgu Local Government Area witnessed several security incidents on Friday, including attacks on three communities.
“So many things happened in Borgu LGA on Friday. Terrorists attacked three communities, including Dekara. In Dekara, they went to the Central Mosque while Jumu’at prayer was ongoing and kidnapped more than 60 people. But they did not injure anybody,” the resident said.
Crime
APC Chairman Dies After Collapsing at Reconciliation Meeting

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Oyewole Mayowa Solomon, has died after reportedly collapsing during a party reconciliation meeting in Iyara, the council headquarters.
Solomon reportedly slumped suddenly while participating in the meeting convened on Friday by a former Ijumu council chairman, Funsho Olumoko, as part of efforts to resolve internal disagreements and promote unity among APC stakeholders in the area.
An eyewitness said the incident caused confusion among participants, who immediately attempted to revive the party chairman before rushing him to a hospital in Kabba.
He reportedly died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The development shocked party leaders and other stakeholders who had gathered for the reconciliation meeting, which was aimed at strengthening the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The meeting was expected to bring together party leaders, ward and local government executives, women and youth leaders, as well as government appointees from the 15 wards in Ijumu.
The incident occurred amid renewed efforts by APC stakeholders in the council to resolve longstanding disagreements and restore unity within the local chapter.
Earlier in the month, party leaders in Ijumu had endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, for second terms.
However, that gathering was reportedly disrupted by disagreements over the leadership of the local government, with Solomon and some other officials said to have walked out of the meeting.
Olumoko, who organised Friday’s reconciliation meeting, had previously been mandated by the Ijumu Consultative Forum to facilitate dialogue among political stakeholders in the council.
Solomon’s sudden death is expected to create fresh uncertainty around the ongoing reconciliation efforts within the Ijumu APC, coming barely two weeks after stakeholders renewed calls for unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
The cause of his death had not been officially disclosed as of the time of filing this report, while efforts to obtain an official reaction from the APC were ongoing.
Crime
BREAKING: ADC Chairman in Enugu Dies in Suspected Murder, Two Arrested

Tension and grief have gripped the political community in Enugu State following the suspected murder of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chairman in Udenu Local Government Area, Chisimdiri Emmanuel Ngwu.
Ngwu, described as one of the longest-serving members of the ADC in the state, was reportedly found dead in the early hours of Wednesday, August 19, 2026, under circumstances that have raised concerns among his family, friends and political associates.
A family source told our correspondent that Ngwu woke up early on Wednesday, left the house and never returned alive.
The source said the family became worried after they noticed he was missing, only to later discover his lifeless body outside the compound.
“We woke up and didn’t see him, only to discover his lifeless body in front of our compound,” the source said.
The source further alleged that scratches were found around Ngwu’s neck and that his neck appeared to have been twisted backwards, raising suspicions about the circumstances of his death.
The incident has sparked concern within the ADC in Udenu and the wider political community in Enugu State, with calls for security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring anyone found responsible to justice.
Meanwhile, two persons have reportedly been arrested in connection with the incident.
Their identities and the specific circumstances surrounding their arrest were not immediately known as of press time.
Ngwu’s death has since sent shock waves through the ADC, with party members and associates mourning his death and demanding a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Crime
Anambra Police Arrest Four Over Alleged Murder of 56-Year-Old Man in Awkuzu

The Anambra State Police Command has uncovered the circumstances surrounding the alleged murder of a 56-year-old man, Mr Kelechi Madu, in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area, two days after he was reported missing.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday, August 21, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who said the breakthrough followed a coordinated search and investigation by police operatives, local vigilantes and members of the deceased’s family.
Madu was reported missing by his wife on August 18, after he reportedly left home on the evening of August 17 and failed to return.
According to the Command, the search for the missing man took a grim turn later that day when his wife returned to the police station to report that he had been found dead in a nearby bush at Umuobi, Awkuzu.
Police operatives immediately mobilised to the scene, where they found Madu’s lifeless body with a deep axe wound to his head. His remains were subsequently evacuated and deposited at a hospital mortuary for preservation.
Following the discovery, detectives intensified their investigation and arrested the deceased’s 32-year-old friend, Mr Ifeanyi Nwankwo, who allegedly confessed to being involved in the planning of the killing.
Preliminary findings by the Command indicated that Nwankwo allegedly obtained money from Madu through fraudulent means, claiming he would assist him in acquiring a piece of land.
Police alleged that the suspect subsequently engaged two other persons to eliminate Madu in an attempt to conceal the alleged fraudulent transaction and prevent the victim from recovering the money.
The Command said two other suspects linked to the alleged plot were also arrested, bringing the number of persons apprehended in connection with the case to four.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, psc, mnips, has directed investigators to intensify the probe and identify every person involved in the alleged conspiracy and murder.
The CP vowed that all persons found culpable would be brought to justice.
The Command, through Ikenga, assured residents that it would continue to strengthen intelligence-led policing and community partnerships to prevent violent crimes, uncover criminal networks and ensure that perpetrators face the full weight of the law.
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