The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old man, identified as Isiyaku Usman, over the alleged defilement of a seven-year-old girl and the theft of two mobile phones in Darazo Local Government Area of the state.
The incident, according to the police, occurred on September 6, 2026, after the child left home to visit a neighbouring house. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, said the matter was reported by the girl’s 37-year-old father, a resident of Kari village in Darazo.
Police said the girl was carrying two Android mobile phones when the suspect allegedly lured her into a nearby uncompleted building. The phones, according to the command, were both Tecno A31 devices. The suspect allegedly took the phones before sexually assaulting the child.
Following the complaint, detectives reportedly began an investigation and arrested Usman. Police said the suspect was found in possession of the two mobile phones allegedly taken from the child, an element that investigators are expected to examine alongside the allegation of sexual abuse.
The command said both the child and the suspect were taken to Darazo General Hospital for medical examination as part of the investigation. Statements were also obtained from those involved, while the suspect remained in police custody.
According to the police account, Usman allegedly confessed during questioning. However, the reported confession remains part of the police investigation and does not by itself establish guilt. The suspect is still entitled to due process, and any criminal responsibility will ultimately have to be determined through the appropriate legal process.
The case has also been treated by the police as a matter requiring further specialist investigation. Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu directed that the matter be transferred to the Gender Laboratory of the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation. The police said the suspect would be charged before a court after the investigation is completed.
The development again highlights the particular vulnerability of children to sexual abuse and the importance of prompt reporting when such allegations arise. In this case, the police said the child’s father reported the incident, after which investigators moved to identify and arrest the suspect and recover the allegedly stolen phones.
The decision to conduct a medical examination is also significant because medical findings can form part of the evidence considered during an investigation and any subsequent court proceedings. Such examinations should be handled with appropriate care and sensitivity, particularly where the alleged victim is a child.
The Bauchi police command has repeatedly said it maintains a zero-tolerance position on sexual and gender-based violence. The commissioner therefore urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant about the safety and movements of children and to report suspicious situations to the appropriate authorities.
For now, the case remains at the investigation stage. The police have not announced a court appearance or conviction, and the allegations against the 20-year-old suspect should therefore be treated as allegations until determined by a competent court.
The incident comes shortly after another child-defilement case was reported in Bauchi, in which police arrested a 70-year-old man over the alleged defilement of an eight-year-old girl. That case was also transferred for further investigation and possible prosecution, underscoring the continuing concern over sexual offences involving minors in the state.
The latest case will now depend on the outcome of the police investigation, medical evidence and any further evidence gathered before the suspect is brought before a court. The central issue remains ensuring that the alleged victim receives appropriate protection and support while the legal process establishes what happened and whether the suspect is criminally responsible.
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