The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested two suspects for allegedly vandalising and stealing armoured cables at the Manpower Development Institute in Dutse, the state capital, and another suspect for high-tension cable theft in the Guri Local Government Area.
PUNCH Online learnt that the MDI, owned by the Jigawa State Government, is a famous training and events centre for government staff, non-governmental organisations and development partners in the state.
It hosts high-profile government functions, capacity-building programmes and conferences, and houses critical public infrastructure.
Confirming the alleged vandalism in a statement made available to journalists in Dutse on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Shi’isu Adam, said the command was determined to clamp down on vandals targeting public infrastructure across the state.
Adam said the first arrest was made at the MDI when police operatives on night patrol apprehended two suspects inside the institute’s premises.
He said, “Operatives attached to Dutse Division arrested two suspects who allegedly vandalised armoured cables at the institute.”
According to him, the suspects are Ahmed Garba, 20, and Abdullahi Garba, 25, both of Jigawar Tsada town, Dutse LGA.
The PPRO said, “The suspects were arrested at about 3:00am on October 21, 2026, inside the premises of the institute.”
“The suspects allegedly conspired and trespassed into the MDI premises before stealing the armoured cables,” he explained.
In a separate operation, the police spokesperson said officers attached to Guri Division, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted another suspect, Abdullahi Maina, 23, of Fulatari Quarters, Nguru LGA, Yobe State, with a high-tension cable hidden in a sack along a bush path.
According to him, “The suspect was found with a high-tension cable concealed in a sack at about 9:30am on the same date.”
Adam said the recovered cable had been taken into police custody for further investigation, adding that “efforts are ongoing to arrest accomplices linked to the Guri incident.”
He said all three suspects were in custody as investigations continued, and the police were working to establish the full circumstances of the incidents and whether other individuals were involved.
According to him, upon completion of investigations at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Dutse, all the suspects will be arraigned in court.
The PPRO also quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Tijjani Murtala, as reiterating the command’s commitment to protecting public infrastructure.
He said the CP urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.