Six individuals have been apprehended in connection with the theft of approximately 30 kilometers of pipeline infrastructure along the Warri-Kaduna route in Ekperi, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Chairman of the Edo State Task Force on Recovery of Government Property, Mr. Eugene Okolosie, revealed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Benin City.
According to him, the stolen pipelines were part of the infrastructure designed to convey crude oil from Warri to the Kaduna refinery.
“These suspects used excavators to dig out sections of the pipeline, and from our preliminary findings, there are strong indications that they may have collaborated with some individuals within the host community to carry out this massive theft,” Okolosie stated.
He further confirmed that a portion of the stolen pipelines had been successfully recovered and added that investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate.
In a related development, five other suspects were arrested in Uhuoghun, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, for vandalizing and attempting to sell government-owned agricultural tractors and heavy equipment. Additionally, another set of five individuals was arrested in Okpella for allegedly stealing high-tension electricity components.
Expressing concern over rising incidents of land encroachment and unauthorized sales, Okolosie noted that 480 hectares of government land—illegally sold by some community members—have been reclaimed by the task force.
“In Sobe, for instance, people sold government-planted Melina and teak trees within a reserved forest area. They destroyed the forest and turned it into plantain farms. This illegal activity has been ongoing for nearly eight years,” he lamented.
The task force chairman also highlighted the widespread encroachment on lands designated for public development. He cited the Ewomama Community as a notable example where lands originally allocated for a civic centre, school, generator, and market were illegally sold. However, he confirmed that all such lands have since been recovered.
“Our school lands have not been spared. Almost every school in Edo has faced some form of encroachment. In Uromi, a private school was even built within the premises of a public school,” Okolosie said. “Anyone who attacks educational infrastructure is attacking the very future of their community.”
He thanked the Edo State Government for its continued support of the task force and urged the public to remain vigilant, warning against individuals posing as task force members to extort money from unsuspecting citizens.
“Let me make it clear—members of the task force are not authorized to demand money from anyone. If anyone approaches you in our name, report them immediately,” he cautioned.
