The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 13 additional suspects in connection with the ₦4.8 billion vandalism and theft of navigation lock metals and beams from the Kainji Power Plant.
This brings the total number of arrests to 25, following the earlier detention of 12 suspects linked to the high-profile case involving the country’s power infrastructure.
Senior Power Plant Staff Among Those Arrested
According to police reports, two senior staff members of Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MSEL) — the company managing the Kainji Power Plant — are among those newly apprehended.
They were identified as Abubakar Jibril (51), a storekeeper from Borgu LGA, and Abdullateef Musa (53), a business risk/internal control officer from Kwara State.
The duo allegedly conspired to steal 100 brand-new 40-amp batteries from the company’s store by concealing them among items listed for auction. The stolen batteries were later sold, and the proceeds were shared among the conspirators.
Police Confirm Arrests and Investigation Progress
The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the latest arrests in a statement issued on Wednesday.
“In a follow-up investigation to the Kainji Power Plant case transferred to the SCID Minna on August 12, 2025, 13 additional suspects were arrested in connection with the vandalisation and theft of navigation lock metals and beams valued at over ₦4.8 billion,” Abiodun stated.
He explained that the suspects were apprehended on September 26, 2025, by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna.
Inside Job: Guards and Cleaners Implicated
Further investigation revealed that some of the newly arrested suspects were security guards and cleaners at the Kainji facility, who allegedly aided the disposal of stolen items and benefited from the proceeds.
Those identified include:
- Aliyu Salihu (42), a.k.a. Cixxe – Borgu LGA
- Ishaq Suleiman Adam (35) – Magama LGA
- Nasko Timothy Joseph (32) – Kaduna State
- Abdulmalik Jimmy Gudah (33) – Zaria, Kaduna State
“These individuals were security men on duty who aided in disposing of the stolen items and afterwards benefited from the proceeds,” the police statement said.
Two other suspects, Joseph Steven (36) from Benue State and Babangida Abdullahi (42) from Borgu LGA, were cleaners at MSEL and were reportedly involved in stealing and selling vandalised metals.
Additional Suspects and Ongoing Interrogation
Other individuals named in the police report include Labaran Haruna (20), Haruna Usman (40), Shuaibu Hassan (48), Musa Salihu (24), and Sabon Mati (47) — residents of Borgu, Lavun, Mashegu, Kano State, and one reportedly from Niger Republic.
“The suspects are in custody, undergoing further interrogation to aid the investigation and the arrest of their accomplices, collaborators, and possible recovery of stolen items,” Abiodun added.
Broader Crackdown on Power Infrastructure Sabotage
The latest arrests mark a major step in the ongoing police crackdown to dismantle the syndicate behind the ₦4.8 billion Kainji heist, which has sparked concerns about internal sabotage and weak security protocols within Nigeria’s energy facilities.
The police have assured that all suspects found culpable will be prosecuted once investigations are completed.
