The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested five suspects in connection with separate cases of alleged rape involving two girls, aged 10 and 12, in Zaki and Katagum Local Government Areas of the state.
The arrests followed complaints lodged by the victims’ fathers at two police divisions in the affected areas, according to the command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib.
In the first case, four young men were arrested over the alleged abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl in Sakwa District, Zaki LGA.
Habib said the victim’s 50-year-old father reported the incident at the Sakwa Divisional Police Headquarters on October 29, a day after it allegedly occurred.
He explained that the incident happened on October 28, when the suspects allegedly took the girl to the room of one of them and sexually assaulted her.
The suspects were identified as Badamasi Mohammed, 18; Bello Mohammed, 18; Mustapha Bappah, 18; and Bashiru Sha’tubu, 22. All four are residents of Sakwa District.
The victim was taken to General Hospital, Zaki, for medical examination, while the suspects were arrested. The police said preliminary investigation had been concluded and the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Bauchi, for further investigation.
In a separate case, a 15-year-old boy was arrested over the alleged rape of a 10-year-old girl in Buskuri Village, Azare, Katagum LGA.
The police spokesperson said the victim’s 45-year-old father reported the incident at the Azare Divisional Police Headquarters on October 29.
According to Habib, the alleged offence occurred on October 15, when the suspect reportedly lured the girl to a farm and sexually assaulted her.
The victim was taken to General Hospital, Azare, for medical examination, while the suspect was arrested and transferred to the SCID for further investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the reported incidents and reaffirmed the command’s zero tolerance for sexual and gender-based violence and child abuse.
He assured that the suspects would be thoroughly investigated and charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The commissioner also urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of sexual abuse to the nearest police station.
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