Suspected vandals caught stealing Bayelsa community streetlights

Two men were arrested in the early hours of Sunday while attempting to steal solar streetlights along the Bulou-Orua-Ebedebiri Road in the Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspects have been detained at the Bayelsa State Police Command Headquarters in Yenagoa for investigation and possible prosecution.

According to the command’s spokesperson, Musa Mohammed, who confirmed the arrest in a telephone conversation on Sunday afternoon, the suspects, identified as Ayebademone Peremobowei and Peres John, are allegedly from nearby Tungbo town.

He said a local hunter caught them in the act and raised an alarm, which led to their arrest.

Residents said over 100 solar lights installed by the Niger Delta Development Commission have gone missing, leaving many areas in darkness and affecting development.

PUNCH Metro reports that solar-powered streetlight projects are a common intervention across communities in Bayelsa State, largely driven by the NDDC to improve rural electrification, security, and economic activity.

The agency has executed multiple installations in Sagbama Local Government Area and other parts of the state under its “Light Up Niger Delta” initiative.

In Sagbama specifically, several contracts have been awarded for the installation of solar streetlights in communities such as Ebedebiri, Angiama, and Odoni, reflecting sustained federal investment in off-grid lighting infrastructure.

However, vandalism and theft of public infrastructure, including solar streetlights, have remained recurring concerns in the area.

In December 2024, two suspected vandals were electrocuted while attempting to steal streetlight poles in Sagbama, highlighting both the risks and persistence of the crime.

Residents have also raised concerns about missing or non-functional installations in some communities, suggesting that theft and maintenance challenges continue to undermine the intended benefits of these projects.