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•How Customs intercepted stolen power conductors, nabbed Jigawa cable thieves
From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) has restored joy and happiness to four semi–urban communities in Jigawa State. This followed the interception of their high-voltage power conductors stolen by a gang of vandals.
The suspects and the exhibits were intercepted on September 11, 2025, by officers of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command on patrol along the Hadeija-Ringim highway.
The four suspects were driving in a Volkswagen vehicle, dubiously labelled as a school bus and were probably on their way to dispose of the stolen items, worth N5.3 million, when they were nabbed.
Handing over the suspects and exhibits, Controller, Kano/Jigawa Command, Dalhat Abubakar, said the seized items included 13 bundles of vandalised 155-millimetre aluminium electric conductors measuring 1,771 metres, 53 bundles of firewood used to conceal the conductors, a box-body wagon, a cutting plier suspected to have been used for the operation, as well as vehicle registration papers.
He said they also seized N250,000 offered as bribe to his officers. He listed the suspects and the driver of the vehicle to include Bashir, Zahardeen, Abdulhahi and Hammer. He noted that the arrest was in the exercise of Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which empowered them to protect the environment and secure public assets, in addition to their core functions of trade facilitation, revenue generation and anti-smuggling: “This singular act of criminality has denied the affected communities water supply and electricity in their homes and hospitals, causing possible health complications, serious injuries and even deaths.
“The transfer of the case to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), is an example of collaboration among relevant inter-government agencies assigned to protect critical national infrastructure. This transfer will further ensure that the vandalised items are returned to the appropriate agency for damage assessment, repairs and restoration of normal services in the affected communities.”
He urged the public to collectively remain vigilant as well as cooperate with the security agencies to check economic sabotage by disgruntled elements: “With the support of sister security agencies, we are determined to ensure that such incidents are minimised or completely eliminated.”
Jigawa State commandant, NSCDC, Bala Bodinga, appreciated the NSC for the arrest of the suspects and seizure of the exhibits: “The arrest is a further display of scientific and kinetic collaboration and synergy. The suspects will be charged to court to face the law.”
Speaking to Daily Sun by phone, a resident of one of the affected communities, Abubakar Auyo, confirmed the disruption of power in the area following the activities of the vandals.
He expressed gratitude to the NCS for the interception and urged security agencies to prosecute and punish the offenders so as to serve as deterrent to others. He also appealed to the relevant government institutions to redouble efforts to restore power supply to the affected communities: “These communities have suffered enough since the theft of their cables.”
