3 Bayelsa civil servants arrested for stealing N500m equipment

The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested three civil servants over alleged theft of government equipment valued at about N500 million.

The command’s spokesman, Musa Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Mohammed said the suspects allegedly conspired to steal several government-owned assets from the Bayelsa State Ministry of Labour, Empowerment and Productivity.

Mohammed listed the items to include a 110 KVA Perkins generator, forklift, lathe machines, electric filling machines, and other equipment.

He said the investigation followed a petition submitted to the Commissioner of Police after officials discovered missing assets during an inspection.

“On June 22, at about 10:30 a.m., the petitioner led a team comprising ministry staff and the Head of Human Resources Management on an inspection,” he said.

Mohammed said the inspection was conducted at the ministry’s equipment store within the premises of the Ministry of Transport in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.

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“Upon opening the store, it was discovered that several valuable government assets, including a 110 KVA Perkins generator, forklift and lathe machines, were missing,” the police spokesperson stated.

He said the Commissioner of Police subsequently directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to begin a discreet investigation.

The investigation, he said, led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Wadi Igiran, 51; Nikade Sunday, 59; and 59-year-old Azabia Yakie.

Mohammed added that the civil servants have confessed to the alleged crime.

“The forklift had been recovered from the receiver, who is also in the custody of the SCID,” Mohammed said, adding that the civil servants would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.