The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 29 suspects for various offences including drug trafficking, culpable homicide, kidnapping, armed robbery, sexual assault, vandalism, theft and possession of counterfeit currency, in September 2026 alone.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this during a press briefing held at the command headquarters, Yandoka Road, Bauchi, on Thursday.
Habib, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, said the arrests were recorded through intelligence-led operations and sustained efforts to prevent crime and criminality across the state.
The PPRO disclosed that two suspects, Shu’aibu Umar, 35, and Isah Ibrahim, 20, were arrested by operatives of the Gadau Division after 69 blocks of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from a Sharon Wagon at Sharfolli village, Atafowa District, Itas/Gadau Local Government Area.
He also disclosed that four suspects were arrested over the alleged killing of a 45-year-old man, Garba Abdullahi, who was said to have been attacked with machetes after being accused of witchcraft.
The suspects were identified as: Shitu Dahiru, 25; Magaji Dahiru, 42; Sabi’u Auwalu, 20; and Abbah Abdulzahar, 19.
According to Habib, two other suspects, Munkaila Ahmad, 34, and Ali Garba, 35, were arrested for alleged vandalism of electricity infrastructure in Gamawa, with 150 metres of aluminium conductor wire recovered.
The PPRO further disclosed that seven suspects were arrested in connection with a reprisal attack in Dass which resulted in the deaths of two persons.
He gave an update on the situation, “Police restored normalcy immediately and arrested the principal suspect, Umar Abubakar, 20 years, of Bayan Fada and six others.”
Habib said two suspects, Sunusi Muhammad, 25, and Idris Aliyu, 20, were also arrested while allegedly collecting N1.5m ransom from a resident of Machiyar Kuka village, Bununu.
He said, “Bununu Division tactically arrested Sunusi Muhammad, 25 years, of Tallaran while collecting the ransom. His accomplice, Idris Aliyu, 20 years, was also arrested. Both confessed to the crime.”
The command equally disclosed that it arrested Gambo Hassan, aka Anahaka, 53, over alleged serial kidnapping, rape and armed robbery, involving female passengers within the Bauchi metropolis.
Habib said, “Over 40 female victims have been identified. A thorough search of his residence led to the recovery of 15 phones, three power banks, six wristwatches, wrappers, hijabs, N425,435 cash, foreign currencies and other items.”
The PPRO also disclosed that similarly, two suspects, Abubakar Muhammad Jatau, 20, and Umar, 18, were arrested over the alleged sexual assault of three minor girls in Darazo.
He added that the police arrested a 35-year-old man identified as Sirajo over an alleged tricycle theft in Dumi, with parts of the stolen tricycle recovered from a bush.
Habib said another suspect, Jabir Yusuf, 25, was arrested in connection with the alleged killing of Hassan Mohamed, 25, who was reportedly shot in the neck with a dane gun in Toro.
In Gamawa, the PPRO said Suleiman Hamza, 35, was arrested after a loaded dane gun he allegedly left unattended was triggered by a 13-year-old boy, Mubarak Mohd, who died from the resulting injury.
In another case in the Bauchi metropolis, three suspects—Usman Aliyu, Usman Musa and Aliyu Babangida, all 18—were arrested over an alleged armed robbery in Fadan Bayak.
Habib said, “Operatives traced the suspects to a room belonging to Usman Yusuf, 18 years, at Unguwar Ardo and arrested Usman Aliyu of Sabuwar Kasuwa, Railway; Usman Musa of Unguwar Ardo; and Aliyu Babangida of Sabuwar Kasuwa.”
He added that three knives and the stolen phone were recovered, noting that “one of the suspects is an ex-convict.”
The PPRO further revealed that Adamu Umar, 25, was arrested in Darazo over an alleged attempt to exchange counterfeit US dollars for naira, while two accomplices escaped.
He said, “Exhibits recovered included 67 pieces of counterfeit USD, one machete and one Tecno keypad phone.”
According to him, the suspect allegedly attacked and injured a police officer with the machete while being conveyed to the division.
Similarly, two suspects, Tanimu Garba, 42, and Habibu Ahmed, 38, were arrested in Yana, Shira Local Government Area, over an alleged counterfeit currency deal and cheating case involving a Lagos resident.
Habib said, “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.”
He continued, 96 pieces of suspected counterfeit $100 notes were recovered, while a manhunt is ongoing for other members of the syndicate.
The PPRO said suspects involved in a public disturbance scenario in Dumi had been identified and were being hunted, while suspected hoodlums who allegedly blocked the Kajala-Kere road in Burra and robbed four persons escaped when a combined police and vigilante team intervened.
Habib said the Commissioner of Police commended the officers for their professionalism and intelligence-led policing.
He quoted the CP as condemning “jungle justice, reprisal attacks, witchcraft-related killings, sexual violence, drugs trafficking, vandalism and circulation of counterfeit currencies.”
The commissioner directed that all cases under investigation be “discreetly investigated and diligently prosecuted.”
He also warned against the possession of illegal firearms and fraudulent foreign exchange transactions, while urging residents to remain law-abiding and provide timely and credible information to the police.