Three Electricity Cable Thieves Arrested in Niger

Niger State Police apprehended three suspects for electricity cable theft in separate incidents. Two suspects, Mohammed Isah and Ishiaku Ali, were arrested for vandalizing cables in Sarkin-Pawa, while Ibrahim Aliyu was caught trying to sell stolen cables at the FUT Bosso campus. Ongoing investigations seek to ensure prosecution.

The Niger State Police Command has taken decisive action against electricity cable theft, arresting three suspects across different locations in the state. According to a statement on Thursday by the police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, the arrests occurred on June 10 at about 11:50 p.m., facilitated by a local vigilante group and police in Sarkin-Pawa, Munya Local Government Area.

The individuals detained are Mohammed Isah, aged 25, and Ishiaku Ali, aged 30, both hailing from Kwagana village near Beni in Sarkin-Pawa. The third suspect, Ibrahim Aliyu, aged 24, is from the Angwan-Kanawa area of Bosso. As per Abiodun’s statement, the suspects were caught while allegedly vandalizing over 100 meters of electric cable on the Beni/Sarkin-Pawa Road, with a stolen white Lexus vehicle identified by its registration number RKD 84 AU at the scene.

Abiodun noted that not only was a cable cutter seized during the operation, but the suspects also confessed their intentions to sell the stolen cables in Abuja. Following their arrest, they have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for ongoing investigations and potential prosecution.

In a related incident, on June 12, another suspect named Ibrahim Aliyu was apprehended by security personnel at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Bosso campus. He was found trespassing and had already damaged an iron door protector of the generator room, cutting approximately 16 meters of armoured cable valued at around N2 million. This offense occurred the previous day but was reported only when he showed up for duty.

Interestingly, while Aliyu was attempting to sell the stolen cables in Angwan-Masa Bosso—with plans to find a buyer—he was caught by vigilant community members. In press statements, Abiodun maintained that during questioning, Aliyu admitted he acted alone and had concealed the rubber part of the armoured cables in a sack to transport them home.

Abiodun confirmed that investigations are still in progress, noting that Aliyu would face formal charges in court soon.

This series of arrests has raised awareness about the critical issues surrounding electrical infrastructure vandalism, which significantly impacts government operations and services.

In summary, the Niger State Police Command has arrested three individuals involved in electricity cable theft throughout the region, showcasing community and police collaboration against such crimes. The suspects’ attempts to sell stolen cables have led to investigations that will likely see them prosecuted soon. Such incidents underline the ongoing issue of infrastructure vandalism, highlighting the need for vigilance and robust law enforcement measures in protecting essential services.

Original Source: punchng.com