Six individuals have been arrested in connection with the large-scale vandalism of the Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline in Ekperi, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State. The suspects, allegedly working in collaboration with some members of the local community, reportedly stole approximately 30 kilometers of pipeline.
Chairman of the Edo State Task Force on Recovery of Government Property, Eugene Okolosie, disclosed this on Wednesday in Benin City during a press briefing on the task force’s recent activities.
According to Okolosie, the suspects used heavy machinery, including excavators, to dig up and remove the pipelines, which were meant to convey crude oil from Warri to the Kaduna refinery. He added that a portion of the stolen pipes has been successfully recovered from the syndicate.
In a related development, the Task Force also arrested five individuals in Uhuoghun, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, for vandalizing government-owned agricultural tractors and other heavy equipment with the intention of selling them. Another five suspects were apprehended in Okpella for stealing high-tension electricity equipment.
Okolosie further expressed concern over the growing rate of land encroachment and illegal sale of government properties across Edo State. He revealed that the task force has recovered about 480 hectares of government land that were unlawfully sold by some community members.
“In Sobe, individuals sold Melina and Teak trees planted by the government in a reserved forest and converted the area into plantain plantations. This illegal activity has been ongoing for the past eight years,” he said.
He also cited the Ewomama community, where vital public infrastructure—including a civic center, generator, market, and the community secondary school land—was sold off. However, he noted that the state government has since reclaimed the properties.
Okolosie raised alarms over illegal land grabbing, particularly of school lands, stating that hardly any public school in the state has been spared. He pointed to an incident in Uromi, where a private school was reportedly built inside the premises of a public school.
“The Task Force has, to a large extent, recovered lands belonging to public schools in the state. Anybody that attacks education is attacking the future of his community,” he said.
He thanked the Edo State Government for its continued support and warned the public against falling victim to impersonators posing as task force officials demanding money.
