Law enforcement officials have detained three individuals suspected of stealing and vandalizing property belonging to the Plateau State Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (PLAMWASSA) in Shendam. The arrests followed the theft of a safe from the agency’s GRA office on July 11, 2026.
PLAMWASSA General Manager, Geologist Jelkyes Dakat, stated that initial inquiries connect these individuals to multiple prior assaults on agency facilities. This apprehension is viewed as a significant step in breaking up a criminal network targeting water infrastructure throughout Plateau State.
The break in the case occurred when a local resident attending a nearby funeral noticed the suspects acting suspiciously near the office. When the individuals returned that night to remove equipment, the resident alerted the community. Local residents successfully captured the suspects and turned them over to military personnel at a nearby checkpoint.
Dakat revealed that the suspects have been linked to the theft of two 200KVA transformers and the sabotage of a 500KVA unit at the Shendam Water Treatment Plant. They are currently assisting authorities in locating stolen goods and identifying other members of the syndicate. Dakat emphasized that these criminal acts have caused major financial damage and hampered the agency’s ability to provide water to the public. He praised the observant resident whose actions were pivotal in the arrests and called on the community to remain active in safeguarding public resources.
