The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested four suspects in connection with the vandalism of a school transformer at Government Girls Secondary School, Bunza, in Bunza Local Government Area.
The suspects, identified as Sanusi Muhammad and Ibrahim Lawal from Sokoto State, alongside Tasi’u Abubakar and Tasi’u Abdullahi from Zamfara State, were apprehended after a prompt response by the Divisional Police Officer in Bunza and a team of vigilantes.
Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, said in a statement on Saturday that the suspects stormed the school around 3 a.m. on September 10, where they overpowered the school’s watchman before dismantling the transformer with chainsaws and other mechanical tools.
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He explained that a black Toyota Corolla with registration number KNT-359-SN, believed to have been used by the suspects, was recovered at the scene, along with vandalised armoured cables and tools used in the operation.
“While two of the suspects were arrested on the spot, further discreet investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Birnin Kebbi, led to the arrest of the fleeing gang members,” Abubakar said.
He added that the suspects remain in custody and will soon be charged to court.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Bello M. Sani, commended the professionalism and swift response of the Bunza DPO and vigilantes, noting that their collaboration highlights the value of police-community partnership in crime prevention.
He assured residents of Kebbi State of the Command’s determination to rid the state of criminal elements and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information to security agencies.
The transformer case comes days after the Command announced the arrest of six suspects over the theft of gold ornaments worth over ₦109.5m in Ka’oje town, Bagudo Local Government Area, on September 10.
Ibrahim Abubakar, a serving officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service, who confessed to participating in the theft was arrested.
The stolen items, belonging to the family of Hajiya Amina Hassan Bello, included five gold necklaces, nine bangles, and four rings weighing 782.7 grams.
Police investigations revealed that the officer conspired with accomplices to sell the stolen gold and launder the proceeds through land acquisitions. The Command said efforts are ongoing to track more suspects and recover additional property.