The Niger State Police Command has uncovered a large-scale theft and vandalism at the Kainji Power Plant valued at over ₦4.8 billion and arrested 12 suspects, including security staff and scrap dealers.
In a statement on Wednesday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the case was first reported on August 11, 2025, by Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, operators of the power plant.
An inspection revealed that navigation lock metals and beams had been vandalised and carted away. Two supervisors at the plant, Shaibu Abu Sufyan (35) and Ibrahim Musa (31), were arrested and later confessed to working with 10 security personnel under Abu Sufyan’s supervision.
The suspects allegedly conspired with scrap dealers in Nasarawa village, Mashegu LGA, who provided equipment to dismantle and transport the stolen materials at night. Police said the thefts had been ongoing since 2023, with transactions traced to companies in Lagos, Kwara, and Osun States.
So far, ₦12.5 million in payments was linked to Abu Sufyan and ₦11.5 million to Musa. Efforts are ongoing to track down other collaborators.
In a separate case, police in Minna exposed a staged kidnapping involving two men, Ahmed Alh. Bura (21) and Shafiu Ibrahim (22), who conspired to fake an abduction and demand ₦7 million ransom from their colleagues.
The suspects, linked to a fraudulent network marketing scheme known as “Quest Int’l Company,” were arrested alongside seven accomplices. Twenty-one SIM cards were recovered during the investigation.
Both cases are being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna, with charges expected in court.
