Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has raised the alarm over the vandalisation of critical power infrastructure, disclosing that major transmission towers had been brought down by vandals.

Speaking at the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at the University of Abuja, on Wednesday, the minister said

three major transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi had been brought down by vandals, adding that

the affected towers were part of infrastructure supplying electricity to Kebbi State and extending to Niger Republic.

According to the Minister, the vandals attacked the foundations of the towers before bringing them down and cutting sections of the structures for sale in the scrap market.

“You will not believe how many towers get pulled down by vandals,” he said.

Acknowledging the challenges facing the power sector, the Minister noted that some electricity infrastructure across the country was more than 40 years old.

“Some of the infrastructure we have in the electricity and power sector are more than 40 years old. We’re systematically replacing them, phasing them out and bringing new ones,”.

Tegbe said the Federal Government had consequently established a joint working committee involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to monitor and protect national electricity assets.

He added that the government was working to ensure that vandalism of critical electricity infrastructure was treated as a serious criminal offence.

On the University solar project, Tegbe said the facility combines a 3.3-megawatt solar array with 3MW AC output capacity and battery storage to provide reliable electricity to critical university facilities.

He said the project would power lecture halls, laboratories, ICT facilities, administrative buildings, campus lighting and other essential services.

Tegbe said more than 58,726 students were expected to benefit from the project, which has 6,078 photovoltaic panels and 388 streetlights installed across the university.

Police operatives in Ogun have recovered 11 assorted iPhones,, laptop computer and other items from two members of a robbery gang arrested shortly after their operation at a student hostel in the Eruku/Agbon area of Ewekoro of the state.

The gang of robbers also forced one of the victims to transfer N200,000 to an account during the robbery operation. Ogun Police command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abeokuta.

The Ogun Police Command spokesperson said the suspects were arrested following a distress call from an anonymous caller at about 2:40 a.m. on Sept. 13.

According to him, the caller alerted the police to an armed gang robbing students at a hostel in the area.

According to him, operatives of the Ewekoro Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, promptly responded to the distress call.

”On sighting the police operatives, the suspects abandoned their loot in a school bag and attempted to flee.

”However, the team pursued and successfully apprehended two suspects,” he said.

Babaseyi said a search of the abandoned school bag led to the recovery of 11 assorted iPhones, an HP laptop and various items of clothing.

He added that some victims had identified the recovered property as belonging to them.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang allegedly forced one of the victims to transfer N200,000 to an account during the robbery,” he said

He also said that detectives had visited the crime scene, documented the forced entry and secured the recovered exhibits.

He further said that the suspects and the recovered property had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for discreet investigation and prosecution.

According to him, efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang and locate the owner of the beneficiary account.

He quoted the state Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, as commending the Ewekoro operatives for their vigilance and prompt response.

Ojajuni reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting students and residents across the state from criminal elements.

He urged operators of off-campus student hostels and landlords to maintain emergency contact numbers and promptly report security threats or suspicious activities.

“Residents are advised to use the Gateway Shield toll-free line, 0800 000 9111, or 09164859299 and 09154293464 to report emergencies,” he said.

Two officers have been killed after suspected armed herders ambushed the convoy of the divisional police officer (DPO) in Ayilamo, Logo LGA of Benue state.

Aondongu, spokesperson for the Benue state police command, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, report said.

The DPO, who reportedly travelled to Makurdi on official duty, was returning to Ayilamo on Monday when armed assailants ambushed his entourage.

The victims were said to have been among the newly deployed mobile police officers in the area.

Last Thursday, four police officers and seven civilians were killed when bandits attacked the community.

Aondongu said “suspected armed bandits in large numbers” invaded and attacked the community before killing the victims.

The police spokesperson said police operatives comprising the PMF unit, tactical team and conventional police officers deployed to the area responded and engaged the attackers in a firefight that lasted seven hours.

“The operatives stood firm in defence of the community and successfully repelled the attack, forcing the criminal elements to retreat into the surrounding forest with heavy casualties in the early hours of 11th September 2026,” Aondongu said.