Police arrest man over alleged defilement, phone theft in Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Command has apprehended a 20-year-old man, Isiyaku Usman, in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl and the theft of two mobile phones in the Darazo Local Government Area.
Usman, a resident of Kari village, was taken into custody following a report made by the victim’s father, 37, on Sunday. The police stated that the incident occurred around 8 a.m. that day as the girl was en route to a nearby house, carrying two Tecno A31 Android phones.
According to preliminary reports from law enforcement, Usman is accused of luring the girl into an unfinished building where he allegedly stole her phones and assaulted her.
In a statement issued on Monday, police spokesperson SP Nafiu Habib noted that detectives acted promptly upon receiving the complaint and arrested Usman while he was still in possession of the stolen devices.
Following the incident, both the victim and the suspect were taken to Darazo General Hospital for medical evaluations. Investigators obtained statements from both parties, and the suspect reportedly admitted to the charges against him. He remains in police custody as the investigation progresses.
Bauchi State Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu has instructed that the case be moved to the Gender Laboratory of the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough investigation.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect would be formally charged following the conclusion of the investigation. The police condemned the alleged crime and emphasized their commitment to addressing sexual and gender-based violence. They also urged parents and guardians to exercise vigilance regarding their children’s safety, assuring the community that justice will be pursued in this case.
