Police catch three suspected vandals in Yobe, recover stolen cables

The Yobe State Police have arrested three people suspected of vandalism. They also recovered stolen power cables, transformer parts, and vehicles believed to have been used in the crime.

The police said these arrests are part of their effort to protect important national facilities and fight against vandalism of public utilities in the state.

On Thursday, Police Public Relations Officer Dungus Abdulkarim released a statement. He said officers from the Area Command in Gashua acted on reliable information. They arrested Abubakar Idris, a 27-year-old aluminium pot maker from the Sabon Gari area in Bade Local Government Area.

Idris was arrested on July 23, 2026, around 1 p.m. He was allegedly found with stolen power cables. The statement noted, "During the operation, two large bundles of power cables were recovered from the suspect."

The police continued their investigation and arrested two more suspects named Samaila Suleiman, 25, and Ibrahim Ado, 26. They also recovered a tricycle, known as a Keke NAPEP, with the registration number 497 DPH. This vehicle was reportedly used to transport the stolen items. Additionally, they found an unregistered Boxer motorcycle thought to be used in the operation.

The police command confirmed that investigations are still ongoing. They aim to catch other members of the gang who are still at large and to find out where the recovered items came from.

The Commissioner of Police, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, spoke about the situation. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to fighting vandalism and other economic crimes. "The Yobe State Police Command has zero tolerance for vandalism, destruction of public infrastructure, and other acts of economic sabotage."

He added, "All tactical and investigative units have been directed to intensify efforts to track down all fleeing members of the criminal gang to ensure they are arrested and prosecuted under the law."

The commissioner also asked residents to help the police with any useful information that could prevent attacks on vital infrastructure. "The command urges members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to the police to protect critical public infrastructure and improve security across the state," he said.