Pipeline vandals in the Niger Delta have significantly upgraded their operations, now using surveillance cameras and advanced weaponry to evade security forces. Warrendi Enisuoh, Executive Director of Operations and Technical Services at Tantita Security Services, revealed these developments on Wednesday.
Speaking at a parliamentary roundtable on pipeline security organized by the joint House and Senate petroleum committees, Enisuoh explained that the vandals now install CCTV cameras in forests and operational zones. These cameras allow criminal networks to monitor the movements of security personnel and avoid detection.
Command Centers and Missile Threats
Enisuoh further disclosed that the groups have evolved into highly organized forces, establishing command and control centers to coordinate illegal activities across the region. Some vandals have reportedly acquired missile launchers capable of targeting aircraft, highlighting the escalating audacity of their operations.
In response to these rising threats, the National Assembly’s joint petroleum committees reviewed petitions challenging existing pipeline surveillance contracts but found no merit in the complaints. They passed a unanimous vote of confidence in Tantita Security Services, national security agencies, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) for their roles in protecting critical oil infrastructure.
Over 300 lawmakers endorsed the resolution, supporting Tantita’s continued role in safeguarding the nation’s oil facilities. Ikenga Ugochinyere, Chairman of the House Petroleum Resources Committee (Downstream), emphasized that all allegations were thoroughly examined and found unsubstantiated.
Senate Committee Chairman Jarigbe Jarigbe stressed that maintaining continuity in pipeline protection is crucial for the sector’s stability. “Disrupting a system that is already delivering results would be counterproductive,” he said. “Our responsibility is to ensure stability and protect national infrastructure.”
The development underscores the growing sophistication of pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta and the urgent need for coordinated security measures.
