By Wiwa Majeri, Dutse
The Jigawa State Police Command has taken into custody 10 suspects linked to the vandalism of electrical transformers and armoured cables in Hadejia and Buji-Kudu Local Government Areas.
The arrests followed a series of targeted operations after reports of extensive damage to public infrastructure.
In Hadejia, operatives apprehended eight men at Matsaro Quarters while they were allegedly tampering with a transformer. Those arrested were identified as Haruna Musa (36), Hussaini Innocent (23), Abubakar Yakubu (27), Zakariyya Mohammed (20), Mamman Danladi (27), Khalifa Yahaya (18), Ibrahim Mohammed (20) and Ali Ibrahim (20).
During questioning, the suspects admitted conspiring to vandalise 15 transformers across several communities, including Auyaka, Gandun Sarki, Shagari, Jama’are and Matsaro quarters in Hadejia LGA, as well as Jabo and Yamide villages.
They confessed to selling the stolen components for ₦380,000 to two men, Idris Nuhu and Abdullahi Idris, who have also been arrested. The final buyer, based in Kano State, reportedly purchased the items for ₦680,000 but remains at large. Police said efforts to track him down are ongoing.
In a separate incident on 2 September 2025, at about 08:30 hrs, detectives from the Bamaina Division responded to a distress call over the theft of armoured cable worth ₦7 million. Two suspects, Sani Sa’idu (25) and Isah Isyaku (25), were arrested.
Investigations revealed that they attempted to burn the stolen cable at the Junior Secondary School in Bamaina. The pair also admitted breaking into the residence of a staff member of the Jigawa State Academy of Gifted, from where they stole a laptop, a mobile phone and ₦20,000 in cash. All items have since been recovered.
Police spokesman SP Shisu Lawan Adam confirmed the arrests and appealed to residents to remain alert, urging communities to promptly report suspicious activities that could threaten public safety.