Three Electricity Cable Thieves Arrested in Niger State
Three suspects were arrested in Niger for stealing electricity cables, following two incidents on June 10 and June 12, 2025. Mohammed Isah and Ishiaku Ali were caught vandalizing cables, while Ibrahim Aliyu was apprehended for breaking into a school to steal. Police are investigating these incidents further and plan to prosecute those involved.
Three alleged electricity cable thieves were taken into custody by the Niger State Police Command following a series of arrests on June 10 and June 12, 2025. The suspects, apprehended with the help of local vigilante groups, are accused of vandalizing critical government infrastructure across the state.
The first information came from the Niger State Police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, who reported the alleged theft in a statement made public on Thursday. The arrested individuals were identified as Mohammed Isah, 25, and Ishiaku Ali, 30, both hailing from Kwagana village in the Beni area of Sarkin-Pawa. Additionally, another suspect, Ibrahim Aliyu, 24, from Angwan-Kanawa, was also arrested.
On the night of June 10, police operatives and vigilante members caught Isah and Ali while they were vandalizing over 100 meters of electric cables along the Beni/Sarkin-Pawa Road. They were found in a white Lexus vehicle, registration number RKD 84 AU, and a cable cutter was recovered from the scene. The suspects reportedly aimed to sell the stolen cables in Abuja and have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for further prosecution.
In a separate incident on June 12, Ibrahim Aliyu was arrested after school security at the FUT Bosso campus found he had broken in and damaged equipment. Reports indicate that he cut off 16 meters of valuable armored cable, valued at around N2 million, from the generator room by scaling the school fence. Upon attempting to sell the stolen materials, he was intercepted by vigilant community members.
Abiodun noted that during interrogation, Aliyu admitted to acting alone in this crime, indicating that he had concealed the rubber part of the cable in a sack for later transport. An ongoing investigation will determine the next steps, including potential court charges against all involved.
The recent arrests highlight the ongoing issue of infrastructure vandalism in Niger State, raising concerns about the protection of critical utilities. The police, alongside community members, are actively working to address these criminal activities, with investigations set to continue. Authorities are emphasizing the importance of securing public assets and deterring future offenses.
Original Source: punchng.com
