Two teenage boys have been arrested in Lapai,Niger State, for the theft of electrical cables suspected to be part of a public power transformer.
The suspects, identified as Usman Umar,a 17 years old and Ahmad Umar,a19 years old,were caught in the act near Muhammadu Jauro Secondary School on Tuesday, where they were burning the stolen cables to extract and sell the iron content.
FCNN gathered that the incident occurred shortly after a public address by His Royal Highness, the Emir of Lapai, Alhaji Umar Bago Tafida III, who on Saturday issued a stern warning at his palace to individuals engaging in criminal activities across the Emirate. The Emir emphasized the need for order and discipline, urging residents to shun acts that threaten the peace and security of Lapai.
Usman Umar, still a minor under Nigerian law, and Ahmad Umar, legally an adult, both confessed to the crime and admitted that it was not their first time. During interrogation, they revealed the names of other individuals involved in similar activities.
However, Gen. S.U. Abdulkadir (Rtd), the Hakimin Takuti, narrated how the culprits were caught:
“We apprehended the boys burning stolen cables. They confessed they often sell the scrap to known dealers, Bello and Awwal who trade in second-hand goods. I reached out to the scrap dealers’ chairman, Dogo, who confirmed that Bello and Awwal have a history of being involved with stolen property. This is not the first time.”
Gen. Abdulkadir added that efforts to combat petty crimes in Lapai are ongoing, and that traditional leaders and security volunteers continue to patrol the area to restore peace and protect community assets:
“These children want quick money without working for it. But discipline must prevail. If anyone from Lapai commits a crime and escapes through the courts, they should be relocated and made to face appropriate punishment elsewhere. The prison is there not just to punish but to correct.”
