Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, have thwarted an alleged attempt to vandalise a pipeline in Gou community, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, with the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect.
The suspect, Aondoyima Agber, a motorcycle operator, was apprehended on Tuesday during an intelligence-driven fighting patrol conducted after security personnel received information about the suspected activities of pipeline vandals in the community.
The Acting Media Information Officer of OPWS, Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, stating that the operation was initiated in response to intelligence on the suspected criminal activity.
According to Zubairu, the suspected vandals escaped before the troops reached the scene, but Agber was arrested while allegedly trying to move a section of the pipeline. He added that the suspect remained in custody pending further directives, as troops sustained their presence in the area to deter attacks on critical national infrastructure and other forms of criminality.
The Force Commander of OPWS and General Officer Commanding (GOC), 5 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Moses Gara, praised the troops for their swift intervention, describing the operation as a timely measure to protect essential national assets from vandalism.
Gara cautioned individuals involved in the destruction of public infrastructure to abandon such activities, emphasising the importance of preserving critical national assets for the benefit of the country.
He also called on residents to exercise vigilance and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the relevant security agencies. The commander stressed that cooperation between local communities and security personnel remained crucial to combating crime and maintaining peace and security throughout the joint task force’s area of responsibility.
