Katsina Times | Suleja, April 22, 2026
Thieves have broken into several staff buses belonging to Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at the Suleja Local Government Secretariat in Niger State, carting away critical vehicle components.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, involved the removal of engine control units, commonly known as “brain boxes,” from at least seven buses parked within the secretariat premises.
Affected vehicles include those belonging to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Federal Ministries of Agriculture, Budget and National Planning, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the Sharia Court of Appeal (FCT), the Office of the Head of Service, and the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
The matter was reported to the Suleja Divisional Police Headquarters on Monday, and investigations are ongoing.
Drivers said the secretariat had long served as a secure parking location for buses transporting federal workers between Suleja and Abuja.
Mr Jimah Umar, a driver with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, said he was among the first to discover the theft.
“We came out on Sunday morning to take the vehicle for repairs and noticed it had been tampered with. Initially, I thought the battery was stolen, but it was the brain box that had been removed,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Amos Amodu, Secretary of the Suleja Staff Buses Association, said multiple vehicles were affected.
“I received a call from a colleague who discovered his vehicle had been tampered with. On getting there, we realised it was not an isolated case—several buses had been affected,” he said.
Other drivers expressed concern over rising insecurity in the area, noting that such incidents began around September 2025.
Mr Joel Arenkhanda, a driver with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, said cases of theft had escalated in recent months, ranging from fuel siphoning to the disappearance of tools and vehicle parts.
Security personnel on duty, comprising two elderly guards and two vigilante members, said they were unaware of the incident, suggesting it might have occurred during a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds on Saturday.
Police authorities have yet to make any arrests as investigations continue.
NAN
