Three Bayelsa civil servants arrested over alleged theft of government equipment worth N500m

The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested three officials of the State Ministry of Labour, Empowerment and Productivity over the alleged theft of government equipment valued at about N500 million.

The suspects are accused of conspiring to steal heavy machinery and other industrial equipment from a government storage facility in Yenagoa.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, the arrests followed a petition submitted to the Commissioner of Police after ministry officials discovered that several valuable assets were missing during a routine inspection.

He explained that on June 22, 2026, a team comprising ministry officials and the Head of the Department of Human Resources Management conducted an inspection of the ministry’s equipment store located within the premises of the Ministry of Transport in Yenagoa.

During the inspection, the team reportedly found that several government-owned assets had disappeared from the facility, prompting an investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

The police identified the arrested suspects as Wadi Igiran, 51, of Besine community in Yenagoa Local Government Area; Nikade Sunday, 59, of Agbere community in Sagbama Local Government Area; and Azabia Yakie, 59, of Okutukutu community in Yenagoa.

Items allegedly stolen from the government store include a 110 KVA Perkins generator, an industrial forklift, lathe machines and electric filing equipment, among other assets.

DSP Mohammed said investigations led detectives to the suspects, who allegedly confessed to their involvement in the theft. He added that officers also recovered the stolen forklift from a third-party receiver, and the equipment has been taken into police custody as evidence.

The police spokesperson said investigations are continuing to determine the full extent of the alleged theft and identify any additional persons connected to the case.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting government property and tackling economic crimes, warning public officials against abusing positions of trust.

The suspects are expected to be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.