The Niger State Police Command has arrested 13 additional suspects connected with the alleged theft and vandalism of navigation lock metals and beams valued at over ₦4.8 billion at the Kainji Power Plant.
Recall that 12 suspects were earlier paraded over alleged criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and vandalism of the equipment, following a complaint from Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd. on August 12, 2025.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the suspects were arrested on September 26, 2025, by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna.
According to him, investigation revealed that two of the suspects are staff of Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited in charge of the store. They include Abubakar Jibril, 51 years, of Borgu LGA (storekeeper), and Abdullateef Musa, 53 years, of Kwara State (business risk/internal control officer).
“They both conspired and stole 100 new 40amps batteries from the company’s store, hiding them amidst items to be auctioned, sold them, and shared the proceeds,” he disclosed.
The other suspects arrested are Aliyu Salihu, aka Cixxe, 42 years, of Borgu LGA, residing in New-Bussa; Ishaq Suleiman Adam, 35 years, of Magama LGA, residing in Anfani, Nasko; Timothy Joseph, 32 years, of Kaduna State, residing in New-Bussa; and Abdulmalik Jimmy Gudah, 33 years, of Zaria, Kaduna State, residing in Kainji.
The PRO said the four suspects were the security men on duty who aided in disposing of the stolen items and afterwards benefitted from the proceeds of the crime.
Abiodun also revealed that Joseph Steven, 36 years, of Otukpo LGA, Benue State, residing in New-Bussa, and Babangida Abdullahi, 42 years, of Borgu LGA, residing in New-Bussa, were cleaners in MSEL and involved in stealing and selling some of the vandalized metals.
Other suspects arrested include Labaran Haruna, 20 years, of Borgu LGA, residing in New-Bussa; Haruna Usman, 40 years, of Lavun LGA, residing in Borgu; Shuaibu Hassan, 48 years, of Kano State, residing in Sabon-Pegi, Mashegu LGA; Musa Salihu, 24 years, of Kano State, residing in Sabon-Pegi, Mashegu LGA; and Sabon Mati, 47 years, of Niger Republic, resident of Sabon-Pegi, Mashegu LGA.
“A large metal known as a shackle, used to hold down beams attached to the lock gate, was recovered from Labaran, who claimed that it was sold to him by Haruna, an alleged vigilante working in the yard. Shuaibu, Musa, and Sabon were all discovered to be scrap metal dealers who received these vandalized metals and sold them, sharing the benefits amongst themselves,” the state Police spokesman stated.
Abiodun further explained that the suspects are in custody undergoing further interrogation to aid investigation and the arrest of their accomplices/collaborators and possible recovery of some of the items, after which they will be prosecuted accordingly
