Police crack child abduction case, rescue two 13-year-old girls in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Police Command has rescued two teenage girls who were allegedly taken from their community in Taraba State and arrested two young men suspected of being involved in the incident.

The victims, identified as Aisha and Zainab, both aged 13, had been declared missing since March 2026 after they reportedly left their homes in Fangari Hamlet, located in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State, and failed to return.

The successful rescue operation was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Command, SP Nafiu Habib, who said the breakthrough followed months of investigation and intelligence gathering by security operatives.

According to the statement, the case began on March 10, 2026, when the father of one of the girls formally reported their disappearance to the police.

He informed authorities that his daughter and her friend had gone missing and could not be traced despite extensive efforts by family members and members of the community.

Following the report, investigators launched a search operation and deployed intelligence assets to track the whereabouts of the missing minors.

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The investigation eventually led police operatives to Bara Town in Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, where the two girls were located and safely rescued.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the police revealed that two suspects, identified as Auwal Muhammad and Abdulgaffar Musa, both 20 years old and residents of Unguwar Zangoma in Bara Town, allegedly conspired to transport the girls from Taraba State to Bauchi State without the knowledge or consent of their parents.

The suspects were subsequently taken into custody for questioning, while the rescued girls were placed under police protection pending arrangements for their safe reunion with their families.

Police authorities confirmed that the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for comprehensive investigation and possible prosecution of those found culpable.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling crimes involving children and other vulnerable members of society.

He warned that the police would not tolerate any form of child abduction, trafficking, or exploitation and urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant regarding the movements and activities of their children.

“The Command will not tolerate any act of child abduction or exploitation. Parents and guardians should monitor their children closely and report any suspicious movement to the nearest police station,” the commissioner stated.

The police command further assured residents of Bauchi and neighboring states that efforts would continue to safeguard vulnerable persons, strengthen inter-state security collaboration, and ensure that perpetrators of crimes against children are identified, arrested, and brought before the law.

The rescue has been welcomed as another significant success in ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat child-related crimes and improve the protection of minors across the country.