The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested five men over separate alleged cases of rape, child defilement, and sodomy involving four girls and a 13-year-old boy across different communities in the state.
The suspects, aged between 18 and 44, were arrested following reports of sexual assaults involving victims aged between four and 17.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, giving details of the separate incidents and the arrests made by operatives of the command.
According to Habib, the first incident was reported on November 2, 2026, when a man alerted the police that his eight-year-old daughter had allegedly been sexually assaulted two days earlier at Disina Village in Yana Local Government Area.
He said police operatives immediately visited the community, arranged medical attention for the victim at General Hospital, Yana, and arrested a 44-year-old suspect, identified as Shawilu Liman.
In another incident, reported on October 20, a four-year-old girl was allegedly lured and sexually assaulted at Tudun Gambo in Alkaleri Local Government Area.
The police spokesperson said the child was taken to Tudun Gambo Health Care Centre for medical examination and treatment, while an 18-year-old suspect, Zakariya Auwal, was arrested in connection with the alleged offence.
Habib further disclosed that another family reported on November 4 that their six-year-old daughter had allegedly been lured to a farm and sexually assaulted at Gwaram Village in Misau Local Government Area.
The victim was subsequently taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Misau, for medical examination, while a 19-year-old suspect, Idris Sani, was apprehended by the police.
The command also recorded an alleged case of sodomy involving a 13-year-old boy at Atawari Village, Gadau District.
According to the police, the incident was reported on November 5, with the victim allegedly lured into a room and sexually assaulted.
The boy was taken to General Hospital, Azare, for medical examination, while operatives arrested a 40-year-old suspect, Mansur Sha’aibu, reportedly from Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State.
In a separate case, a father reported on November 3 that his 17-year-old daughter had allegedly been raped in a bush at Dangara Village, Toro Local Government Area, while she was tending to cattle.
The police said a 25-year-old suspect, identified as Michael Soja, was arrested in connection with the incident.
Both the suspect and the victim were taken to General Hospital, Toro, for medical examination.
The police spokesperson said all five suspects remained in custody and would be charged in court after the conclusion of investigations.
He added that the victims had received medical attention, while the command was collaborating with relevant stakeholders to provide them with psychosocial support and protection.
Reacting to the incidents, the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the alleged sexual offences, describing them as wicked, inhuman and a betrayal of the trust children place in adults.
Aliyu stressed that the command would not tolerate sexual and gender-based violence, particularly offences committed against minors.
“No child deserves to live in fear. No parent should be afraid to let their child play, go to school, or help at home.
“We will not look away. We will pursue every case, protect every victim, and ensure that perpetrators face the full wrath of the law,” he was quoted as saying.
The commissioner urged parents, guardians, teachers, religious leaders, and community heads to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious individuals or activities to the nearest police station.
He also encouraged parents and guardians to pay attention to children, listen to their complaints, and take reports of abuse seriously, noting that early reporting was essential to preserving evidence and securing justice.
Aliyu assured residents that the command would continue to work with communities and relevant organisations to protect children and ensure that homes, schools, and public spaces remained safe.
