The Niger State Police Command has arrested 14 suspects in connection with two major crimes — a multi-billion-naira theft and vandalism at the Kainji Power Plant, and a staged kidnapping designed to extort ₦7 million.
In a statement on Wednesday, Command spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun said the first case stemmed from a complaint lodged by Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd on August 11, 2025, after critical infrastructure at the Kainji Power Plant was found vandalised.
“An inspection at the navigation lock yard of the Kainji Power Plant revealed that navigation lock metals and beams worth billions of naira were vandalised and carted away by unknown persons,” Abiodun said.
Following investigations, two supervisors at the plant — Shaibu Abu Sufyan (35) and Ibrahim Musa (31) — were arrested. Abu Sufyan later confessed, implicating ten other security personnel under his supervision: Zayyanu Musa, Jibrin Abdullahi, Hassan Musa, Micah Adamu, Attahiru Umar, Abdulrahman Usman, Ismaila Ibrahim, Mubarak Husseini, Adamu Abubakar, and Abdullahi Abubakar (aka Zuma).
Police disclosed that the suspects conspired with scrap dealers — Musa Khalid, Abah Khalid, and Abdullahi of Nasarawa village, Mashegu LGA — who deployed heavy equipment, including acetylene gas, to dismantle and transport the stolen metals in trucks at night.
“These criminal activities have been ongoing since 2023. So far, ₦12.5m transactions were traced between Abu Sufyan and one dealer, while ₦11.5m was linked to Ibrahim Musa. The stolen items were sold to companies in Lagos, Kwara, and Osun States,” Abiodun stated.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the scrap dealers and other collaborators.
Meanwhile, in another case, police in Minna uncovered a staged kidnapping involving two young men who allegedly faked an abduction to swindle their colleagues.
The case, first reported to Tudun-Wada Division on September 2, 2025, led to the arrest of nine suspects and the recovery of 21 SIM cards from two men identified as Suleiman Dauda of Mandela area and Salisu Dauda of Sahuka Kahuta, Minna.
Further investigation revealed that the supposed kidnap victim, Ahmed Alh. Bura (21) of Bauchi State, and his alleged abductor, Shafiu Ibrahim (22) of Makujeri, conspired after attending a car drifting event to stage a disappearance. They later demanded ₦7 million ransom from colleagues under the guise of kidnapping.
Both suspects were arrested on September 17 with the aid of technical intelligence and are now in SCID custody in Minna, alongside others previously apprehended. They are expected to be charged in court soon.
