Guard, AEDC staff arrested over alleged transformer theft

The Niger State Police Command has identified a private security man guarding an estate in Niger State, 33-year-old Saddam Mohammed, as being involved in the theft of two 1000  KVA transformers belonging to the Abuja Electricity  Distribution Company.

Our correspondent learnt that the estate, located at the Federal Housing Estate, Tungan-Shanu, Niger State, reported the theft at the Maje Police Division, which swung into action to recover the stolen transformers.

It was further gathered that operatives of the division during a stop and search operation intercepted the transformers along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway and Maje-Dikko road in a Hijet vehicle being driven by one of the suspects, 28-year-old Bilyaminu Jibrin.

The suspect, Arewa PUNCH again learnt, told the police during interrogation that 53-year-old Yahaya Nepa hired him to deliver the stolen items to a location in Jabi, the Federal Capital Territory.

Following the revelation, the police arrested Nepa who  later told them that he purchased the transformers from the estate’s security man, Saddam Mohammed  at the rate of N750,000 each.

The spokesman of the Niger State Police Command Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the arrest and disclosed that the suspects and the stolen items were in police custody.

Abiodun, who explained the entire situation of events to our correspondent, said, “On 16th August 2026 at about 1:30p.m, a distress call was received by Maje Div from Federal Housing Estate, Tungan-Shanu that on the same date and time, he discovered that two units of 1000KVA transformers that were kept in the Power house of the Estate under the custody of a security man, one Saddam Mohammed, had been stolen.

On receipt of the report, the Police Patrol team attached to the Division immediately moved to the scene, commenced stop and search operations along Abuja-Kaduna expressway and Maje-Dikko road.

“In the course of the search, a Hijet vehicle driven by one Bilyaminu Jibrin 28yrs of Maje was intercepted with the stolen transformers.

“During interrogation, the suspect revealed that he was hired by one Yahaya Nepa, 53yrs of Maje who instructed him to deliver the stolen items to a location in Jabi, FCT.

 “Further investigations led to the arrest of the said Yahaya who confessed to have purchased the transformers from the security man, Saddam Mohammed 33yrs, attached to the Estate in whose custody they were kept. He added that he bought the transformers at the rate of seven hundred and fifty thousand naira (#750,000) each.

“One other suspect, Samuel Adedeji, also a security man attached to the Estate was also arrested while efforts are ongoing to apprehend Saddam Mohammed and one Malam Rabiu attached to AEDC Abaji in the FCT.

“The suspects and recovered exhibits are in Police custody while investigation continues after which the suspects will be charged to court and prosecuted accordingly,” Abiodun said.