Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Bornet .k
Three employees of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Labour, Empowerment and Productivity have been arrested by the state police command over allegations of stealing government-owned equipment valued at about N500 million.
The suspects, identified as Wadi Igiran, 51, Nikade Sunday, 59, and Azabia Yakie, 59, are all staff members of the ministry and are currently assisting the police with investigations into allegations of criminal conspiracy and theft of public property.
The investigation began after the Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State received a petition concerning the disappearance of several government assets from a storage facility belonging to the ministry in Yenagoa, the state capital.
According to the petition, the discovery was made on Monday, 22 June 2026, at about 10:30 a.m., when officials from the ministry, including the Head of the Human Resources Department, carried out an official inspection of the ministry’s equipment store located within the premises of the Ministry of Transport in Yenagoa.
During the inspection, officials reportedly discovered that several valuable government assets were missing from the facility. The missing items were said to include a 110 KVA Perkins generator, a forklift, lathe machines, electric filing machines and other equipment belonging to the Bayelsa State Government.
Following receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police directed operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to begin a discreet investigation into the matter.
Police investigations reportedly led to the arrest of the three ministry employees, who authorities said provided useful information during questioning and allegedly confessed to involvement in the disappearance of the equipment.
The police also confirmed the recovery of the stolen forklift from a receiver. The recovered equipment has been taken into the custody of the SCID as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities said the suspects are expected to be charged before a court after the completion of investigations and the gathering of further evidence.
The development has raised fresh concerns over the protection of government assets and accountability within public institutions, as security agencies continue efforts to investigate cases involving alleged misappropriation and theft of public property.
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