The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested four suspects, while three others escaped during a late-night vandalism attempt at the Dangote Rice Mill in Hadin town.
A large quantity of stolen electric cables was recovered, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
It could be recalled that Jigawa State has witnessed a troubling rise in vandalism targeting public infrastructure, prompting police crackdowns on wire thieves to protect critical assets such as power grids and industrial sites.
It was gathered that the incident at the Dangote Rice Mill in Hadin village marks the first of its kind since the facility began operations.
The latest arrests follow a September 2025 operation in Hadejia, where two suspects were apprehended while vandalising telecom cables.
Confirming the development in a statement issued on Tuesday in Dutse, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shi’isu Adam, said operatives from the 35 Squadron, Police Mobile Force, arrested the suspects around 11pm on October 29 at the mill in Kaugama Local Government Area.
Those arrested include Uwem Sunday (28) from Calabar, Cross River State; Sani Idris (24) from Wudil LGA, Kano State; Zakari Muhammad (59) from Dala LGA, Kano State; and Babangida Usaini (42) from Burtalin Camp in Kaugama LGA, Jigawa State.
Adam explained that the suspects were caught uncoiling electric aluminium wires within the company premises.
During interrogation, Uwem Sunday confessed that three accomplices — identified as Sheyi, Alhaji Bashir Abdullahi, and Nasiru Zubairu — arrived in a Hummer bus parked outside the facility but fled upon sighting security personnel.
“A large quantity of vandalised cable wire was recovered, and efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing accomplices,” SP Adam stated.
In a separate operation, detectives from the Bulangu Division arrested Isyaku Muhammad (45) of Majema Quarters, Hadejia LGA, around 5:30 p.m. on October 28 for allegedly vandalising electric aluminium wires at Malumawa Jabo Village the previous day.
“Evidence tied him directly to the vandalism crime,” SP Adam noted, adding that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse for further investigation.
“Isyaku will face court charges once investigations wrap up discreetly,” he added.
Adam revealed further that “the case now sits at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse for a deeper probe.”
“Isyaku will face court charges once investigations wrap up discreetly,” Adam confirmed.
He quoted the state Commissioner of Police, CP Dahiru Muhammad, as praising the officers’ quick action and urging residents to stay alert and report any suspicious activities to local stations.
“Commended the prompt response of the officers and urged members of the public to remain vigilant,” Adam quoted the CP as saying.
PUNCH Online earlier reported that the command arrested five suspects, including a woman, in two separate armed robbery cases, while a sixth remains at large, with stolen properties comprising livestock recovered in a bold crackdown on local crime.
Police arrest four vandals at Jigawa rice mill
