12 security staff arrested for allegedly vandalizing Kainji Power Plant
Police in Niger State have arrested 12 security staff of Mainstream Energy Solution Ltd, the managers of the Kainji Hydroelectric Power Station, over alleged conspiracy, vandalism, breach of trust, and theft of cables and metal parts at the station. The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said at a security briefing […]
nigeria police force
Police in Niger State have arrested 12 security staff of Mainstream Energy Solution Ltd, the managers of the Kainji Hydroelectric Power Station, over alleged conspiracy, vandalism, breach of trust, and theft of cables and metal parts at the station.
The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said at a security briefing that the navigation lock metals and beams vandalized by the suspects are valued at over N4.8 billion.
“On August 12th, 2025, the above-mentioned case was transferred from New-Bussa Division to SCID Minna, with two suspects, bordering on the offences stated above, and in furtherance to the investigation of a criminal complaint received from Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd dated August 11th, 2025,” Abiodun stated.
He added that the complaint indicated that an inspection in July 2025 at the navigation lock yard revealed that parts of the structure were vandalized and stolen.
The police spokesperson noted that the initial investigation led to the arrest of two suspects at the power plant, who were then transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects conspired and contacted three scrap dealers from Nasarawa village in Mashegu LGA.
The PPRO said the scrap dealers would mobilize to the navigation lock gates, mostly at night on weekends, to vandalize the metals using acetylene gas. The cut metals were then loaded onto trucks with a crane. He alleged that the theft happened between 2023 and 2025.
“These items were taken to a shop in Nasarawa village for weighing to ascertain the value before payment, and proceeds get shared,” SP Abiodun further alleged.
According to him, ‘’The owner of the shop has numerous agents through whom these items are sold to different companies in Lagos, Kwara and Osun states.”
He said investigation also revealed that the plant’s store and other manhole covers were tampered with, with heavy equipment carted away from the store.