Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 70-year-old man, identified as Hamza Yahaya, for the alleged defilement of a 10-year-old minor in the Magama Gumau community of Toro Local Government Area. The suspect was apprehended following a report made on Friday, May 15, 2026, at approximately 9:30 p.m. by the 40-year-old father of the victim, who is also a resident of Magama Gumau. According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Abubakar, the father reported that earlier that same day, at about 4:00 p.m., Yahaya had lured the child to his hideout within the area and had unlawful sexual intercourse with her.
Upon receipt of the complaint, detectives attached to the Toro Division immediately mobilised to the scene and arrested the suspect. During interrogation, the suspect denied the recent allegation, but voluntarily confessed to having sexually assaulted the victim on three previous occasions at the same location. Both the victim and the suspect were taken to the General Hospital, Toro, for medical examination and treatment. The suspect has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Bauchi, for further investigation and prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has condemned the alleged act and reiterated the Command’s zero‑tolerance stance on crimes against children. He assured the public that the case would be pursued diligently to ensure justice is served. The Command also urged parents, guardians, and community members to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that may compromise the safety and welfare of children.
This arrest highlights a disturbing reality of child sexual abuse in rural Nigerian communities, where minors are often targeted by individuals known to them. Recent statistics underscore the severity of the problem. According to the Bauchi State Ministry of Justice, between December 2024 and December 2025, 86 cases of sexual assault were recorded across the state. The command has recorded several similar cases in recent months, including the arrest of a 60-year-old man for defiling a nine‑year‑old girl just days before the 70-year-old suspect was apprehended. Between April 2020 and May 2026, the Bauchi State Action Committee on Sexual and Gender‑Based Violence recorded 218 cases of gender‑based violence, including 94 rape cases, 11 cases of child abuse, and 19 cases of forced marriage.
The federal government has taken legislative steps to address the crisis. In October 2025, the Nigerian Senate passed a bill prescribing life imprisonment for anyone convicted of defiling a minor. Senate President Godswill Akpabio declared after a unanimous voice vote: “The Senate has decided that any defilement of a minor in Nigeria henceforth attracts life imprisonment — without an option of fine.” Bauchi State has also domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, which outlaws all forms of harmful practices, exploitation, child labour, abduction, and neglect. Despite these legal frameworks, enforcement remains a significant challenge, and cases such as this highlight the persistent vulnerability of children in rural communities.
Medical experts have noted that child sexual abuse has profound and long‑lasting physical and psychological consequences, including an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and suffering from depression and post‑traumatic stress disorder. The fact that the victim in this case is only ten years old makes the alleged crime even more reprehensible.
The police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and the suspect will be charged in court upon conclusion. The Commissioner of Police has also assured the public that the Command will sustain visibility policing and ensure that criminal elements are brought to justice. For now, a 70‑year‑old man sits in a police cell, awaiting his day in court, while a 10‑year‑old girl begins the long process of healing from an ordeal that should never have happened.
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