The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old man, Jafar Mohammed, over the alleged abduction and rape of a 16-year-old girl in the state. According to the police, the suspect, a resident of Zango Ward in Bauchi, was arrested in October at the Hayin Rigasa axis of Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State. The case began on September 3, 2026, when a 35-year-old woman from Makwalla Ward, Bauchi, filed a written petition reporting that her younger sister had been missing since August 5.
The police said the girl returned home on August 8, 2026, three days after she was reported missing. She allegedly told investigators that Mohammed deceived her into going with him under the pretext of marriage before sexually assaulting her without her consent. Following a discreet investigation, detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) tracked the victim’s mobile phone number, which was found to be in the suspect’s possession in Abuja.
Acting on intelligence, SCID operatives later arrested the suspect in Kaduna State. The command said Mohammed confessed to the allegations during interrogation. The case is currently under discreet investigation at the Gender Laboratory of the SCID in Bauchi, with police expected to complete the inquiry before determining the next legal steps.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, assured the public that the command has zero tolerance for gender-based violence and all forms of abuse against minors. He reiterated that justice would be served and urged parents to monitor their wards closely. The arrest is part of the command’s wider crackdown on sexual and gender-based crimes.
In October, police had also arrested four men over alleged rape, defilement and sexual exploitation involving girls aged between 10 and 12, as well as a 20-year-old woman described as vulnerable. The Bauchi command has repeatedly urged residents to report cases of sexual violence promptly, stressing that early reporting improves the chances of protecting victims and bringing suspects to justice.
The police spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The command’s efforts to combat sexual and gender-based crimes have been ongoing, with several arrests and convictions in recent months. The public has been urged to cooperate with the police in reporting cases of abuse.
The Bauchi State Police Command’s crackdown on sexual and gender-based crimes is part of a broader effort to improve security and protect vulnerable populations in the state. Key initiatives include community engagement and public awareness campaigns to prevent and report cases of abuse.
Key points
- The suspect, Jafar Mohammed, was arrested in Kaduna State and confessed to the allegations during interrogation.
- The case is currently under investigation at the Gender Laboratory of the SCID in Bauchi.
- The Commissioner of Police has assured the public that the command has zero tolerance for gender-based violence and all forms of abuse against minors.
