Police nab three suspects for vandalism at Jigawa event centre

The Jigawa State Police have arrested two people for allegedly vandalising and stealing armoured cables at the Manpower Development Institute in Dutse, the state capital. They also caught another suspect for stealing high-tension cables in Guri Local Government Area.

PUNCH Online gathered that the MDI belongs to the Jigawa State Government. It is a well-known training and events centre for government workers, NGOs, and development partners in the state.

The institute hosts important government events, training programmes, and conferences. It also has key public infrastructure.

SP Shi’isu Adam, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the vandalism in a statement to journalists in Dutse on Saturday. He said the police are serious about stopping vandals who target public infrastructure in the state.

Adam mentioned that the first two suspects were caught at the MDI during a police night patrol. He said, “Operatives attached to Dutse Division arrested two suspects who allegedly vandalised armoured cables at the institute.”

The suspects are Ahmed Garba, 20, and Abdullahi Garba, 25, both from Jigawar Tsada town in Dutse LGA. The PPRO added, “The suspects were arrested at about 3:00am on October 21, 2026, inside the premises of the institute.”

He explained, “The suspects allegedly conspired and trespassed into the MDI premises before stealing the armoured cables.” In a different operation, police officers from Guri Division acted on reliable information. They intercepted another suspect, Abdullahi Maina, 23, from Fulatari Quarters, Nguru LGA in Yobe State. He had 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 police have taken the recovered cable into their custody for further investigation. He also noted that “efforts are ongoing to arrest accomplices linked to the Guri incident.”

All three suspects are in police custody while investigations continue. The police are working to find out the full details of the incidents and if anyone else is involved. Adam stated that once investigations at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse are done, all the suspects will be taken to court.

The PPRO quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Tijjani Murtala, who stressed the command’s commitment to safeguarding public infrastructure. He called on the public to stay alert and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.