The Kebbi Police Command says it has recovered a large quantity of stolen electricity service cables in Bunza Local Government Area of the state. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bashir Usman, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi. Usman said the recovery was made on Aug. 25, during a police operation in the Kara area of Bunza town, following concerns over the persistent theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure in the area. He said the activities had plunged several communities into darkness and disrupted electricity supply to residents.
According to him, police operatives recovered 10 bundles and seven sacks of electricity service cables during the operation. He added that a suspect, Mustapha Abubakar, was arrested and subsequently arraigned before the court. The PPRO said the development underscored the command’s resolve to dismantle individuals and criminal networks involved in the theft and vandalism of public infrastructure.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Hadejia, reaffirmed the command’s determination to protect critical national assets and ensure that perpetrators face the full weight of the law. Hadejia urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the command. He assured the public that all information provided would be treated with strict confidentiality.
The recovery is a small victory in the fight against infrastructure vandalism. The theft of electricity cables has plunged communities into darkness and cost the country billions. The arrest and arraignment of the suspect is a positive step, but the vandals are often part of larger networks. The police must continue to dismantle these networks to protect critical infrastructure.
This echoes the 2022 cable theft operations in Lagos, which also saw arrests and recoveries. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a focus on protecting public infrastructure.
The winners: the police, who have made an arrest; and the communities affected by the vandalism, who may see improved electricity supply. The losers: the vandal, who faces prosecution; and the Nigerian government, which must address the root causes of infrastructure vandalism.
Bottom Line: A cable thief is in court. The police are making progress. The question is whether the progress will be sustained or the vandals will return.