EXCLUSIVE(SAHARA REPORTERS): South-East Forests Host Months-Long Operation as Vandals Cart Away 3km of Port Harcourt-Kaduna Pipeline

A major act of national economic sabotage and security breach has come to light in Nigeria's South-East, where suspected pipeline vandals have dug up and removed over three kilometers of a crucial high-pressure petroleum pipeline. This pipeline is responsible for transporting refined petroleum products from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Kaduna in Northern Nigeria. An investigation by SaharaReporters uncovered that this massive act of vandalism took place in secluded forest areas spanning Eha-Amufu in Enugu State's Isi-Uzo Local Government Area and Obeagu Community in Ebonyi State's Ishielu Local Government Area. This incident raises profound concerns regarding security oversight and the protection of vital national assets. The affected pipeline is an integral component of Nigeria's petroleum distribution network, moving products from the Port Harcourt refinery corridor through various states to the northern parts of the country.

During a field visit, SaharaReporters observed extensive excavation trenches carved across challenging terrain, indicating that the operation was not a quick hit-and-run crime but rather a sustained effort over an extended period. The sheer scale of the operation suggests the involvement of a highly organized syndicate, equipped with specialized tools, logistical support, and detailed knowledge of the pipeline's path. Reaching the vandalized section highlighted the remote nature of the criminal activity. It took the SaharaReporters team more than three hours and twenty minutes to reach the area by motorcycle. At a certain point, vehicular access became impossible, compelling the reporter and their commercial motorcyclist to abandon the bike and trek over two kilometers through dense forest to arrive at the site.

Upon arrival, significant portions of the pipeline had already been unearthed and removed, leaving behind deep gulleys and clear signs of heavy mechanical work. Residents from both Eha-Amufu and Obeagu communities pointed fingers at a businessman from Ebonyi State as the mastermind, though his identity could not be confirmed at the time of this report. According to multiple sources familiar with the operation, the alleged suspect reportedly mobilized scores of laborers from the Abakaliki area of Ebonyi State and established a temporary camp within the forest for weeks, or even months, as the excavation progressed. One source informed SaharaReporters, "I don't know his real name. He came with more than 50 able-bodied men from Izzi. They spent over two months inside the bush excavating the pipeline."

The source further elaborated that after exposing the buried infrastructure, the group utilized specialized cutting equipment to slice the pipes into manageable sections for transportation before loading them onto trucks. "They dug up the pipeline, cut it into pieces using heavy machinery and loaded the materials onto trucks. They lived in the forest throughout the operation. They evacuated the pipes in the dead of the night with assistance of corrupt elements in the security," a resident disclosed. Community members expressed their astonishment that such a large-scale operation could have persisted for months without drawing decisive intervention from authorities.

Several sources alleged that multiple security agencies active in the vicinity were aware of these activities but chose to overlook them after receiving bribes. "Security agencies in Eha-Amufu knew about it. The Forest Guards, police, soldiers and even the NSCDC were aware. Some stakeholders in both communities also knew what was happening," one resident claimed. These allegations could not be independently verified. Particularly alarming were claims that some local youths who attempted to challenge the operation were allegedly either threatened or induced into silence. "Some youths who wanted to stop the excavation were reportedly threatened. Others were reportedly given as much as N1 million to back off," another source asserted.

This act of vandalism unfolds amidst a protracted security crisis that has ravaged communities along the border region between Enugu and Ebonyi states. For several years, Eha-Amufu, a border community between Enugu and Benue states, along with neighboring Obeagu, has endured relentless attacks from armed groups, including suspected herdsmen, leading to fatalities and kidnappings for ransom. These assaults have also resulted in the displacement of hundreds of farming families from their homes. Community leaders believe that the resultant security vacuum likely created the conditions that allowed the pipeline excavation to continue largely unhindered.

When SaharaReporters reached out to an executive of the recently inaugurated Obeagu Town Union, who preferred anonymity, he stated that the current community leadership became aware of the operation only a few days prior. He explained that the community had just emerged from over a decade of leadership instability, during which no functional traditional or town union structures existed to coordinate local governance and security matters. "The town union and traditional institution are still trying to stabilise after years without leadership. We were only elected and inaugurated in April and have met just once," the town union executive remarked. He pledged that the issue would be deliberated at forthcoming community leadership meetings and reported to the appropriate authorities.

The town union executive attributed the incident to the broader security challenges plaguing the communities, which lack proper road access and network coverage. "For over a decade, Obeagu had no effective leadership structure. At the same time, neighbouring communities in Eha-Amufu have been battling serious insecurity, including kidnappings and repeated herdsmen attacks," the source noted. He further highlighted that more than 150 farm settlements, known locally as Ndi-Agu, have been abandoned following attacks by armed groups. According to him, these displaced farmers traditionally served as the community's primary line of surveillance, monitoring remote boundary areas and reporting suspicious activities. "Those settlements used to provide eyes and ears for the communities. Once the people were displaced, vast areas became deserted and vulnerable. When nobody is living there, who is left to monitor what is happening?" he questioned.

Security analyst and human rights lawyer, Mr. Gerald Moses, stated that the incident underscores the fragility of Nigeria's critical infrastructure in remote and conflict-affected regions. "The successful excavation and removal of kilometres of high-pressure pipeline over several weeks or months without detection or intervention raises questions about the effectiveness of existing surveillance systems protecting national energy assets," he commented. While pipeline vandalism has long been a problem in Nigeria's oil-producing areas, particularly the Niger Delta, the apparent removal of a strategic inland petroleum products pipeline on this scale signifies a considerable escalation. Moses warned that such actions not only result in billions of naira in economic losses but also jeopardize national energy security, environmental safety, and public infrastructure.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters' attempts to elicit official responses from security authorities proved unsuccessful. The spokesperson for the Ebonyi State Police Command, SP Joshua Ukandu, did not respond to multiple phone calls seeking comments on the allegations and the reported destruction of the pipeline. As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and military authorities operating in the area had not responded to inquiries regarding the extensive vandalisation.