Police arrest four over alleged sexual assault, shop-breaking

The Bauchi State Police Command has apprehended four individuals in relation to separate allegations of sexual assault against minors and attempted shop-breaking across the state. The suspects were apprehended through targeted operations by detectives from the Azare Division and a patrol team in Bununu.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, a 20-year-old man named Gidado Adamu was arrested on September 14, 2026, for allegedly attempting to sexually assault an eight-year-old girl in Chokle Quarters, Azare. The suspect allegedly lured the child into a farm, but the girl raised an alarm, prompting the suspect to flee. The victim was subsequently taken to General Hospital Azare for medical care.

Another suspect, 20-year-old Abba Umaru, was arrested on September 6 in relation to an alleged attempted rape of a 10-year-old girl in Samamuro Village, Katagum Local Government Area. The suspect reportedly took the girl into a farm and attempted to defile her. The girl's screams reportedly frightened the suspect, who then fled. The girl's family reported the incident to the police.

In Bununu, a 21-year-old man named Umar Ladan was apprehended by police working with a local vigilance group known as Yan Committee for allegedly attempting to break into shops. Ladan was seen wearing a hijab and attempting to break into shops. When stopped, he could not provide a satisfactory explanation and was subsequently arrested.

The four cases have been forwarded to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Bauchi for further examination and potential prosecution. Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu lauded the officers and vigilance group members involved in the arrests.