In its sustained onslaught against crime and criminality, anchored on the fight against violent crimes, intelligence-led operations and visibility policing, the Bauchi State Police Command has announced the arrest of 30 suspects for offences ranging from criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, culpable homicide, kidnapping, sexual and gender-based violence, vandalism, drug trafficking, counterfeit currency, cheating, public disturbance and theft, as well as recovered exhibits of significant evidential value.
The disclosure was made by the Command’s PPRO, SP Nafiu Habib, while briefing journalists on the activities of the Command in the past few months, held at the Command headquarters on Thursday.
On criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of 69 blocks of suspected Indian hemp, he said: ‘On 21st September, 2026 at about 1500hrs, acting on credible intelligence, operatives attached to Gadau Division intercepted a black Sharon Wagon with Reg. No. WKA 805 at Sharfolli village, Atafowa District, Itas/Gadau LGA.’
He added that a search revealed 69 blocks of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, concealed in groundnut sacks.
The exhibits have been recovered, while two suspects, Shu’aibu Umar, 35, and Isah Ibrahim, 20, both from Atafowa village, were arrested.
Also, for criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide over a witchcraft allegation, ‘On 20th September, 2026 at about 1235hrs, a 35-year-old man, resident of Dunari village, reported that his elder brother, Garba Abdullahi 45 years old, was gruesomely attacked on his way from the farm by four persons who accused him of witchcraft, alleging he caused the illness and death of one Sawaida Dahiru.’
The PPRO said the suspects allegedly macheted the victim, who was evacuated to General Hospital, Azare, where he was confirmed dead and his corpse released for burial.
Four male suspects arrested are Shitu Dahiru, 25, Magaji Dahiru, 42, Sabi’u Auwalu, 20, and Abbah Abdulzahar, 19.
For vandalism of critical national infrastructure, the Command said that, on 18 September 2026 at about 1530hrs, a staff member of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), Zonal Office, Azare, reported that, on 13 September 2026 at about 0010hrs, unknown persons vandalised electricity poles at Zindiwa Bush, Gamawa LGA, and removed aluminium conductors valued at N1.2 million.
The PPRO revealed that operatives arrested Munkaila Ahmad, 34, and Ali Garba, 35, both from Yaba village, Gamawa, after recovering 150m of the aluminium conductor wire.
The Command also made an arrest for the offence of public disturbance and theft following a report that youths from Dumi area invaded Karofi Madaki, attacked residents and dispossessed them of valuables; operatives of ‘A’ Division mobilised to the scene on a joint patrol.
The miscreants fled through Ganuwa/Kandahar mountains, abandoning stolen items, which included one butterfly sewing machine, one Dell laptop, two MP3 players, one gas cylinder and clothing materials.
Meanwhile, the suspects have been identified, while a manhunt for them is currently ongoing.
For criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance and double culpable homicide, on 4 September 2026 at about 1800hrs, Ibrahim El-Safwan ‘M’, aka Jabala’i, of Bayan Fada, Dass, conspired with others and attacked Abdulrahman Nuru ‘M’, 29, a tricycle rider of Bundot area, with cutlasses at Tudun Wus, Dass. The victim was confirmed dead at General Hospital, Dass.
The incident sparked a reprisal as youths from Bundot mobilised with cutlasses and stormed Bayan Fada, resulting in a clash near Dass Central Motor Park, where one Mukhtar Jibrin ‘M’, 38, of Bayan Fada was stabbed. He was confirmed dead at ATBUTH, Bauchi.
Police restored normalcy immediately and arrested the principal suspect, Umar Abubakar ‘M’, 20, of Bayan Fada, and six others.
Furthermore, following credible intelligence of threat calls demanding N1.5 million ransom from a resident of Machiyar Kuka village, Bununu Division tactically arrested Sunusi Muhammad, 25, of Tallaran while collecting the ransom.
His accomplice, Idris Aliyu, 20, was also arrested, and both confessed to the crime.
On 11 September 2026, operatives arrested Gambo Hassan, aka ‘Anahaka’, 53, of Igbo Quarters along Adamu Jumba Road, with a knife, face mask and Bajaj motorcycle with Reg. No. BAU 150G.
The suspect disguised as a commercial motorcyclist at night to rob female passengers; over 40 female victims have been identified.
During a search of his residence, items recovered included 15 phones, three power banks, six wristwatches, wrappers, hijabs, N425,435 cash, foreign currencies and other items.
Also, a father reported that his three minor daughters were lured to an uncompleted building in Lanzai District and sexually assaulted by two suspects, Abubakar Muhammad Jatau, 20, and Umar, 18, who were arrested.
The victims were taken to General Hospital, Darazo, and medically examined.
Also, sequel to a report at ‘A’ Division, operatives arrested Sirajo, 35, for tricycle theft, as he led operatives to Dumi bush, where the tricycle had been dismantled. Parts were recovered and reassembled, except the tarpaulin. It has been released to the identified owner.
Also, on 7 September 2026, one Jabir Yusuf, 25, of Rinjin Gura, Zalau Ward, allegedly shot Hassan Mohamed, 25, in the neck with a dane gun. The victim was confirmed dead at Toro General Hospital. The suspect was arrested and the dane gun recovered.
In Burra, some hoodlums blocked Kajala-Kere road and robbed four persons of two Bajaj motorcycles, two phones and a power bank.
A combined Police/Vigilante team foiled the robbery and recovered the motorcycles, while the suspects fled.
In Gamawa, Suleiman Hamza, 35, negligently left a loaded dane gun; a teenager, Mubarak Mohd, 13, triggered it and fatally injured himself. He was confirmed dead at General Hospital, Gamawa. The suspect was arrested.
On 22 September 2026 at about 2200hrs, a 19-year-old man of Fadan Bayak, Jahun, reported at the Violent Crimes Response Unit’s (VCRU’s) Hawk Base that, at about 2100hrs the same date, three persons intercepted him at Fadan Bayak, placed a sharp knife on his neck and robbed him of his Techno Pop 9 phone valued at N80,000.
Operatives traced the suspects to a room belonging to Usman Yusuf, 18, at Unguwar Ardo, and arrested Usman Aliyu of Sabuwar Kasuwa, Railway; Usman Musa of Unguwar Ardo; and Aliyu Babangida of Sabuwar Kasuwa, all 18-year-old males.
Three knives and the stolen phone were recovered. One suspect is an ex-convict.
The PPRO added: ‘On 22/09/2026 at about 1830hrs, acting on credible information that some persons planned to exchange counterfeit US dollars for naira at Nahutan Darazo area, operatives attached to Darazo Division tactically arrested one Adamu Umar, 25, of Jigawa State, while two accomplices escaped.’
The exhibits recovered included 67 pieces of counterfeit USD, one machete and one Tecno keypad phone.
The suspect attacked and injured an officer with the machete, and later attempted to escape from the motorcycle while being conveyed to the Division, resulting in injuries to himself and two officers. The injured were treated and discharged at General Hospital, Darazo.
Similarly, on 22 September 2026 at about 1600hrs, a 42-year-old resident of Agege, Lagos State, reported at Yana Division that Tanimu Garba, 42, and Habibu Ahmed, 38, of Yana Town, Shira LGA, in conspiracy with three others from Gidan Waya, Kwanar Hukuma, Kano State, lured him from Lagos to Yana for a dollar exchange.
He transferred N4,449,000 to an account provided by them, after which they assaulted him with sticks, gave him suspected counterfeit $100 notes and fled into the bush. Suspects were arrested and 96 pieces of counterfeit 100 USD notes were recovered. A manhunt for others is ongoing.
The PPRO added that the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended operatives for their professionalism and intelligence-led policing, and condemned in strong terms jungle justice, reprisal attacks, witchcraft-related killings, sexual violence, drug trafficking, vandalism and the circulation of counterfeit currencies.
He has directed that all cases under investigation be discreetly investigated and diligently prosecuted.
He also warned against possession of illegal firearms and fraudulent forex transactions, and urged the public to remain calm, law-abiding and to continue to provide timely and credible information to the police.