The Niger State Police Command has arrested 12 security guards attached to the Kainji Power Plant for alleged involvement in vandalism and theft of navigation lock metals and beams valued at about N4.8 billion.
Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun said two supervisors, Shaibu Abu Sufyan (35) and Ibrahim Musa (31), were first picked up on August 11 following a petition from Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd. Abiodun said Abu Sufyan later confessed and named 11 other guards as accomplices.
The suspects allegedly conspired with scrap dealers — identified as Musa Khalid, Abah Khalid and Abdullahi of Nasarawa village, Mashegu LGA — who mobilised workers to cut and cart away metals using acetylene gas and cranes, often at night and on weekends. The materials were reportedly moved to Khalid’s shop, weighed, and resold through networks to companies in Lagos, Kwara and Osun states.
Police said financial records showed over N12.5 million in transactions between Abu Sufyan and Khalid, and about N11.5 million linked to Ibrahim Musa and the dealers. Investigators also found that store and manhole covers at the plant were tampered with, and heavy equipment stolen.
Abiodun said efforts are ongoing to track the scrap dealers and other accomplices.
