12 Security personnel arrested over alleged vandalization of critical power components in Niger

By Daniel Ebi , Minna. 

The incessant cases of power outage across the country may not be unconnected to a massive vandalization of critical power components valued at over N4.8 billion by 12 members organized  syndicate  nabbed by the Niger State Police Command. 

The Niger State Police Command public Relations officer,  SP Wasiu Abiodun in a crime bulletin made available  to newsmen on Wednesday said the suspects comprises of Security personnel and receivers of stolen equipment. 

“On August 12th 2025,  the  case was transferred from New-Bussa Div to SCID Minna with two suspects bordering on the offences  of criminal vandalization and thief 

 “And in furtherance to the investigation of a criminal complaint received from Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd dated August 11th, 2025 which indicated that within July 2025,.

“An inspection was conducted in the navigation lock yard of Kainji power plant at Kaya junction and discovered that some navigation lock metals and beams were vandalised and stolen by unknown persons valued over 4.8bn naira”

According to State Police Command Spokesman,   New-Bussa division arrested two suspects from the power plant and transferred to SCID Minna. 

The arrested individuals were; Shaibu Abu Sufyan 35yrs of New-Bussa and Ibrahim Musa 31yrs of the same address, both  security supervisors at the power plant. 

He explained that  operatives of the SCID led by DSP Ahmed Saidu commenced further investigation, and Abu Sufyan who initially denied the alleged crime, later confessed when confronted with facts.

” He stated that he perpetrated the act with the following staff; Ibrahim Musa, Zayyanu Musa, Jibrin Abdullahi, Hassan Musa, Micah Adamu, Attahiru Umar.

Others are Abdulrahman Usman, Ismaila Ibrahim, Mubarak Husseini, Adamu Abubakar,  Abdullahi Abubakar a.k.a Zuma, all security staff under Abu Sufyan.

SP Wasiu Abiodun  noted that from  police preliminary investigation revealed that all suspects conspired and contacted one Musa Khalid, Abah Khalid and Abdullahi who are major scrap dealers in Nasarawa village of Mashegu LGA.

The dealer  mobilised to the location of the navigation lock gates, and “Musa Khalid and others usually moved to the location with acetylene gas mostly during weekends at night, vandalised the metals, cut into sizes and used a crane to load it into canter trucks which has been happening since 2023  2025. 

“These items were taken to Musa Khalid’s shop in Nasarawa village, for weighing to ascertain the value before payment and proceeds  shared “

The statement also noted that Musa Khalid has numerous agents through which these items are sold to different companies in Lagos, Kwara and Osun States. 

“It was discovered that the plant’s store and other manhole covers were also tampered with, as heavy equipment was carted away from the store. 

“Over #12.5m transactions were discovered between Abu Sufyan and Musa Khalid, and over #11.5m transactions were also discovered between Ibrahim Musa and Musa Khalid and others”

Meanwhile,  the Police Command  says investigation is still ongoing to arrest others such as the scrap dealers and other collaborators.

 Further development will definitely be made public as the investigation progresses.