Police Arrest Three Ministry Workers Over Alleged Theft of N500 Million Government Equipment
The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested three employees of the state Ministry of Labour, Empowerment and Productivity over the alleged theft of government equipment worth about N500 million.
The suspects are accused of conspiring to steal several government-owned assets, including a 110 KVA Perkins generator, a forklift, lathe machines, electric filing machines and other equipment kept in the ministry’s store.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Saturday in Yenagoa, saying the investigation followed a petition submitted to the Commissioner of Police after ministry officials discovered that valuable equipment had disappeared from the store.
According to Mohammed, the missing items were uncovered during an official inspection conducted on June 22, 2026, by ministry officials and the Head of the Department of Human Resources Management at the equipment store located within the premises of the Ministry of Transport in Yenagoa.
“Upon receipt of the petition, the Commissioner of Police directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to commence a discreet investigation, which led to the arrest of the three suspects,” the police spokesman said.
The suspects were identified as Wadi Igiran, 51, from Besine Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area; Nikade Sunday, 59, from Agbere Community in Sagbama Local Government Area; and Azabia Yakie, 59, from Okutukutu Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
Mohammed said the three suspects, who are all staff members of the ministry, confessed to the alleged crime during interrogation.
He added that police operatives have recovered the stolen forklift from the alleged receiver, while efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining missing equipment.
“The forklift has been recovered from the receiver and is currently in the custody of the State Criminal Investigation Department. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the suspects will be charged to court,” he stated.
The police spokesman reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding public assets and combating economic and property-related crimes, assuring that all those found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.