Police in Katsina have arrested five suspects over the theft and illegal sale of electric cables. The arrests happened in Bugaje village, Jibia Local Government Area.
Officers received intelligence on June 9, 2026 about stolen public utilities in the area. Operatives from the Central Police Station moved quickly to investigate and make arrests.
Three main suspects were identified as Hassan Ibrahim, 30; Lawal Ibrahim, 31; and Abubakar Sani, 31. They're now being questioned at state headquarters.
According to investigators, electric cables fell in Bugaje about six months ago due to bad weather. Local authorities had recovered and stored them safely.
But the suspects allegedly planned to steal some cables and sell them illegally. They didn't have permission to do this.
Police say the cables went through Umar Isa, 35, who sold them to Ibrahim Rabiu, 27. Both men are part of the investigation.
The suspects confessed to selling stolen materials five times, making ₦300,000 in total. Each time they made money, they pocketed it illegally.
Officers also recovered 10 iron doors from the Barawa Housing Estate during the operation. They found electrical cables, power components, insulators, connectors, and a scrap transformer too.
During questioning, all five suspects named seven other accomplices involved in the scheme. Those seven are currently on the run.
Police are actively searching for the remaining gang members. Authorities say the hunt continues across the state.
Police Commissioner Ali Umar Fage condemned the thefts in strong terms. He called such crimes a serious threat to public development and community safety.
Fage promised residents the command would protect public assets going forward. He urged people to report any suspicious behavior to nearby police stations.
Court proceedings will begin after investigations wrap up completely. A date for the court appearance hasn't been announced yet.
