Authorities apprehend trio suspected of damaging cable infrastructure

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The Yobe State Police Command said three suspected vandals in the state have been arrested and it recovered suspected stolen power cables, transformer components and vehicles allegedly used in carrying out the criminal operation.

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The command said the arrests were part of its ongoing efforts to protect critical national infrastructure and combat the vandalism of public utilities across the state.

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According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Dungus Abdulkarim, operatives of the Area Command, Gashua, acting on credible intelligence, arrested a 27-year-old aluminium pot maker, Abubakar Idris, of the Sabon Gari area in Bade Local Government Area.

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The statement said Idris was arrested on July 23, 2026, at about 1 p.m. while allegedly in possession of suspected stolen power cables.

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It added, “During the operation, two large bundles of power cables were recovered from the suspect.”

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The police said further investigation led to the arrest of two other suspects identified as Samaila Suleiman, 25, and Ibrahim Ado, 26.

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According to the statement, operatives also recovered a tricycle, popularly known as a Keke NAPEP, bearing registration number 497 DPH, allegedly used to transport the stolen items, as well as an unregistered Boxer motorcycle believed to have been used during the operation.

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The command said investigations were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate who remain at large and to ascertain the source and ownership of the recovered items.

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Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage.

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“The Yobe State Police Command has zero tolerance for vandalism, destruction of public infrastructure and other acts of economic sabotage.

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“All tactical and investigative units have been directed to intensify efforts to track down all fleeing members of the criminal syndicate to ensure they are arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the commissioner said.

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He also appealed to residents to support the police with useful information capable of preventing attacks on critical infrastructure.

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“The command urges members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to the police to safeguard critical public infrastructure and enhance security across the state,” he added.

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