The Bauchi State Police Command said it arrested 27 suspected paedophiles and rapists across the state between June and July.
The Command made the disclosure on Thursday via a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmed Mohammed Wakili.
Wakili, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said that the police made the arrests in collaboration with individuals and groups in their respective communities as key drivers of policing.
According to him, besides the 27 suspects paedophiles and rapists, five other suspects were arrested in connection with offence against property and public peace.
He disclosed that among those arrested was one Saleh Hassan (29) who allegedly defiled a five-year-old girl at Unguwar Hardo.
A non-governmental organisation, Prison Inmates Development Initiative (PIDI-Nigeria) had raised an alarm over the alleged defilement of the girl by the suspect and called for a thorough investigation of the case with a view to bringing the suspect to book.
The said suspect, according to the PPRO, was brought to the Township Police Station in Bauchi by peace and security committee members attached to Unguwar Hardo in Bauchi.
He said: “On the 16/07/2020 at about 1800hrs peace and security committee members attached to Unguwar Hardo brought one Saleh Hassan ‘m’ aged 29 years of Unguwar Hardo, Bauchi to the Township police station that on the same date at about 1415hrs he lured one Mariya Ummi Sale ‘f’ aged 5 years of same address to his room and had carnal knowledge of her, which as result she sustained serious injury in her private part. However, the suspect was arrested meanwhile, investigation is in progress.”
DSP Wakili also stated that four men were arrested at Yelwa Makaranta area of Bauchi metropolis for criminally conspiring, abducting and gang raping a 15-year-old girl in the area.
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Those arrested in connection with the crime, according to him, are Kabiru Saleh (25); Abubakar Moh’d (27); Abdullahi Abdullahi (28) and Christopher Luka (26)
“On 16/4/2020 about 2000hrs, one Kabiru Saleh ’m’ aged 25 years of Yelwa Makaranta and three others criminally conspired and abducted one Kadijat Usman ‘f’ aged 15 yrs into the room of the said Kabiru Sale situated at Yelwa Makaranta, Bauchi and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her one after the other,” Wakili stated, adding that investigation into the case is still ongoing.
In another development, SP police spokesman said that operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) arrested one Nwanko Victor Emeka (25), who confessed to being a member of Viking cult group, for being in possession of a locally made pistol at Bobbies Night Club in Bauchi.
The suspected cultist, according to him, mentioned four others, Emmanuel Ekene Paul; Isaac Paul; Lucky Amechi and Bimene Mathew as members of the cult group.
In a separate development, Wakili disclosed that the Bauchi State Government has enacted the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, adding that the fight against sexual/gender-based violence on women and children is ongoing in the state.
He warned criminal elements in the state and their allies who may be nursing any agenda inimical to the safety and security of the state to desist from such act.
DSP Wakili assured that the state police command will not relent in mobilising all resources within its reach to confront and neutralise any criminal act and tendencies.
He expressed the appreciation of the Commissioner of Police to the people of the state “for their continuous cooperation with the police and equally enjoined them to explore to the fullest, the window of mutual cooperation provided by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu’s concept of community policing.”
