Bauchi Police Arrest Stepfather for Alleged Defilement of 8-Month-Old Baby

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Balarabe Adamu over the alleged sexual abuse of his eight-month-old stepdaughter in Toro Local Government Area of the state.

The incident was reportedly reported on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at about 5:34 pm. According to a statement issued late Thursday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, Adamu, who resides in Lame, Toro LGA, allegedly defiled the infant after the child was brought to his residence by his wife. The baby was subsequently taken to the General Hospital, Toro, for medical examination and treatment, the police said.

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Following the report, operatives of the Gumau Police Division visited the scene and arrested the suspect. The police said Adamu remains in custody while investigation into the alleged offence continues. The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the alleged abuse and assured that the command would ensure justice for the victim. Aliyu directed that the case be thoroughly investigated and that the suspect be charged to court upon completion of the investigation in accordance with the law.

The mother of the baby has reportedly appealed to authorities to ensure justice is served, expressing shock and distress over the incident. The command reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on sexual violence and child abuse, urging parents, guardians and community leaders to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities involving children to the police. The police said further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.

Bauchi Police Arrest Stepfather for Alleged Defilement of 8-Month-Old Baby

Niger Police Arrest Six in Kidnap Syndicate Using Fake Lifts to Abduct Victims

Police uncover a syndicate operating across four states that lured victims with offers of rides before drugging and abducting them for ransom.

The Niger State Police Command has arrested six suspected members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate allegedly operating along the Suleja and Kontagora axes, with links to Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states. The suspects were identified as Amira Yusuf, 23, from Kano State; Abdullahi Garba, 40, from Sokoto State; Ibrahim Mohammed, 37, from Kano State; Maijida Abubakar, 26, from Kano State; Abdullahi Sani, 40, from Zamfara State; and Bello Shehu, 22, from Sokoto State.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the investigation began after a case of criminal conspiracy and suspected kidnapping was reported at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Minna, on May 14, 2026. The breakthrough followed a kidnapping report involving a woman and her infant who were allegedly abducted by unknown hoodlums in Suleja on February 7, 2026, while the woman was on her way to the market.

Two days after the abduction, the victim’s relatives reportedly received a call from an unknown number demanding N50 million ransom for her release. The relatives allegedly raised N9.5 million, which was paid in instalments into three different bank accounts bearing different names. Despite the payment, the victim was not released and the abductors allegedly threatened to kill her.

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The victim eventually managed to escape, leaving behind personal belongings, including her mobile phone and ATM card. Police said the suspects subsequently exploited the abandoned banking details to demand N10.5 million ransom from another woman who was abducted in Shagari, Sokoto State, while travelling to visit her husband in the Kontagora area of Niger State.

Following the report, detectives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit commenced an investigation and analysed the bank accounts through which ransom payments had allegedly been made. The investigation led to the arrest of Amira Yusuf Aliyu, 23, in Kano State on July 2. During interrogation, police said Amira claimed she had been deceived by one Mustapha Yusuf, the alleged leader of the syndicate who is currently at large. According to the police, Amira alleged that Mustapha lured her to Sokoto under the pretext of introducing her to his family ahead of marriage, but subsequently abducted her and used her bank account details to demand ransom from her parents.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Abdullahi Garba, also known as Zidane, 40, of Sokoto State, on July 26. Garba was reportedly arrested at the residence where Amira was allegedly held following her abduction. The police said Garba admitted knowledge of the incident but claimed that Mustapha had also deceived him into believing that Amira was his fiancée and allegedly used his phone to communicate with her parents without his knowledge.

The investigation also resulted in the arrests of Ibrahim Mohammed Kote, 37, and Maijida Abubakar Yusuf, 26, both from Kano State, on August 7 and 10 respectively. Police said findings showed that Ibrahim was the brother-in-law of the alleged kingpin and had stood as surety for Mustapha when he was arrested and detained by another security agency in Kano. Maijida, who police identified as Mustapha’s wife and an alleged member of the syndicate, was also accused of allowing her bank account to be used to receive several ransom payments. According to the police, Maijida confessed to receiving ransom payments and allegedly disclosed that proceeds from the criminal activities were used to purchase a Honda Civic vehicle, renovate her room and acquire household items.

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Another alleged senior member of the syndicate, Abdullahi Sani, also known as Samaila Atulu, 40, from Zamfara State, was arrested in Zaria on August 19. The police said assorted charms were recovered from Sani during a search. During interrogation, Sani allegedly confessed to using the charms to defraud members of the public under the guise of providing spiritual assistance. He also allegedly admitted arranging with Mustapha for some of his clients to be kidnapped. Police said Sani was later identified during an identification parade at the command headquarters by one of the victims, who pointed to him as one of those allegedly involved in the abduction of her and her baby in Suleja.

The sixth suspect, Bello Shehu, 22, of Gangam Village in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State, was arrested in connection with the disappearance of the second victim. Police said Shehu was reasonably suspected of providing information about the victim’s whereabouts to Mustapha, whom he allegedly knew.

The command said investigations had so far led to the arrest of the six suspects, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend Mustapha Yusuf, identified as the alleged leader of the syndicate, and two other members known as Jafar and Fatima. The suspects are currently in police custody and undergoing further investigation and interrogation. The police said the investigation would continue until all relevant evidence was recovered, after which the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution.

This comes as the Niger State Government and police intensify efforts to combat kidnapping in the state. In July 2026, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago launched the Police Command’s 218-member Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) and commissioned 12 operational vehicles to strengthen the fight against banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state. The unit comprises specially selected officers drawn from tactical formations and police divisions across the state, who have undergone intensive training in modern policing, operational procedures and human rights.

The command assured residents of its commitment to dismantling criminal networks and protecting lives and property across the state. It also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in tracking down kidnappers and other violent criminals.

Niger Police Arrest Six in Kidnap Syndicate Using Fake Lifts to Abduct Victims

Troops Neutralise Over 21 Boko Haram, ISWAP Terrorists in Adamawa Precision Strike

Nigerian troops and a special tactical team dismantle a terrorist camp in Hong LGA, recovering arms and destroying logistics infrastructure.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with a Special Tactical Team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), have neutralised more than 21 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists during a coordinated search-and-rescue operation in the Kopre Mountain area of Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State. The troops also dismantled the terrorists’ camp and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition following the operation.

Acting Military Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the operation was conducted on August 27, 2026. He said the joint force comprised the ONSA Tactical Team and newly inducted troops of 226 Battalion, deployed to Sector 4, Adamawa State, under the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu. According to him, the troops, acting on credible intelligence, carried out a stealth insertion into the area despite the difficult and rugged terrain before launching a precision strike on the terrorists’ camp in the early hours of Thursday.

Goni said the operation was part of sustained efforts to locate and rescue victims being held by terrorist elements, including persons abducted from Mussa community in May and the Lassa schoolchildren kidnapped in June. The Mussa abduction saw 42 pupils, including toddlers as young as two years old, taken from their classrooms on May 15, 2026, with parents expressing anguish over the continued absence of information about their children months later. The Lassa attack occurred on June 29, 2026, when suspected terrorists stormed Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, killing a teacher and abducting students writing NECO examinations.

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He said the troops engaged the terrorists in two separate encounters, neutralising more than 21 of them, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds. The troops subsequently took control of the area, dismantled the terrorist camp and destroyed associated logistics infrastructure, further degrading the terrorists’ operational capability in the area. During exploitation of the location, several motorcycles, bicycles and jerrycans containing Premium Motor Spirit, believed to have been used to support the terrorists’ logistics and mobility, were destroyed. The troops also recovered several AK-47 rifles, magazines and a substantial quantity of 7.62mm Special ammunition.

Military sources indicated that one member of the hunter component supporting the operation was killed during the encounter, with no reported losses of military equipment. Goni said the operation demonstrated the joint force’s operational tempo, tactical proficiency, intelligence-gathering capability and combat effectiveness. He added that it further demonstrated the troops’ capacity to project combat power into difficult terrain, dismantle terrorist enclaves and deny the terrorists freedom of action within the theatre.

The Military High Command commended the ONSA Tactical Team and Operation Hadin Kai troops for their gallantry, professionalism, resilience and coordination during the operation. It reaffirmed the determination of the Armed Forces and other security stakeholders to continue pursuing and degrading terrorist elements wherever they seek refuge. The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, also assured the public that intelligence-driven operations would continue to locate and rescue abducted persons, dismantle terrorist strongholds, destroy their logistics and deny them the freedom to operate. The theatre command said the operations would be sustained until all abducted persons were located and rescued, while efforts continued to restore lasting peace and security across the North-East.

Troops Neutralise Over 21 Boko Haram, ISWAP Terrorists in Adamawa Precision Strike