On January 26, 2025, the Rivers State Police Command apprehended two individuals involved in vandalizing solar street lights installed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) along Danjuma Drive, off Trans-Amadi Road in Port Harcourt. The suspects, Shaibu Yusuf (30) from Gombe State and Ibrahim Abubakar (28) from Katsina State, were caught in the act and found with items including solar lights, poles, panels, bolts, nuts, and a knife. They have confessed to being part of a syndicate targeting street solar lights and manhole covers in the area. The suspects have been charged to court, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate.

This incident highlights ongoing challenges with infrastructure vandalism in Rivers State. In May 2023, police arrested three individuals in the Borokiri area of Port Harcourt for vandalizing NDDC-provided streetlights, recovering eight solars, eight heavy-duty batteries, and two streetlights.

The Rivers State Police Commacontinues to urge residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through their emergency hotlines: 08032003514 and 08098880134.