Police in Niger State, Federal Republic of Nigeria, have arrested 12 suspects involved massive theft and vandalism of equipment at the Kainji Power Plant valued at over ₦4.8 billion.
According to Wasiu Abiodun, Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, the arrest follows a complaint from Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd on August 11, 2025, after uncovering a long-running conspiracy by security staff at the Kainji Power Plant.
“An inspection at the navigation lock yard of the Kainji Power Plant revealed that some navigation lock metals and beams worth billions of naira were vandalised and carted away by unknown persons. Following this, two supervisors at the plant were arrested and transferred to SCID Minna,” the statement read.
The suspects, identified as Shaibu Abu Sufyan (35) and Ibrahim Musa (31), initially denied involvement. However, Abu Sufyan later confessed and implicated ten other security personnel under his supervision.
They include Zayyanu Musa, Jibrin Abdullahi, Hassan Musa, Micah Adamu, Attahiru Umar, Abdulrahman Usman, Ismaila Ibrahim, Mubarak Husseini, Adamu Abubakar, and Abdullahi Abubakar (aka Zuma).
Investigations further revealed that the group conspired with scrap dealers Musa Khalid, Abah Khalid, and Abdullahi of Nasarawa village, Mashegu LGA.
According to police, the dealers mobilised heavy equipment to dismantle the metals using acetylene gas, cut them into pieces, and transported them in trucks during weekends at night.
“These criminal activities have been ongoing since 2023. So far, ₦12.5 million in transactions were traced between Abu Sufyan and one of the dealers, while ₦11.5 million was linked to Ibrahim Musa. The stolen items were sold to companies in Lagos, Kwara, and Osun States,” police disclosed.
The Command confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the dealers and other collaborators.
Separately, on May 3, 2025, the Defence Headquarters confirmed the arrest of four security personnel for aiding terrorist operations in the North-East.
According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, the suspects included two personnel from the hybrid forces who had been working alongside troops to combat insurgency.
They were arrested between April 26 and 29, during operations across Bama, Kukawa, and Madagali LGAs. He added that they were among four terrorist logistics suppliers apprehended by troops.
Source:https://energynewsafrica.com
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