Bauchi police detain two suspects in separate robbery cases and recover a stolen phone

The Bauchi State Police Command announced on Saturday that it had arrested two men in connection with separate robbery incidents in the state. The first arrest involved an 18‑year‑old suspect, Mustapha Mohammed, who allegedly broke into a 23‑year‑old woman’s room in Sabon Kaura, Bauchi LGA, at about 3:10 am on 30 October. Armed with a knife and a torchlight, he is said to have injured the victim’s left hand and stolen her Itel A80 mobile phone, valued at N120,000. Police tracked Mohammed after the report, detained him and recovered the phone. During interrogation he reportedly confessed and claimed he had handed the phone to an unidentified individual known as Dan‑Oga, who remains at large.

In a second case, a 20‑year‑old herder named Jingi Buba from Nyada Village, Gamawa LGA, was arrested after a 40‑year‑old father reported that his 15‑year‑old daughter and her friend were attacked while returning from cutting grass on 29 October. Buba allegedly threatened one teenager with a knife and stole a Tecno A31 phone worth N20,000. Operatives from the Gamawa Division pursued the suspect, seized him and recovered the stolen phone as evidence.

Both incidents were described by the police spokesperson, Senior Police Officer Nafiu Habib, as part of the command’s sustained fight against armed robbery and violent crime. The command confirmed that the investigations have been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet further inquiry, and that efforts are ongoing to locate the unknown recipient of the Itel phone.

Background

The arrests occurred amid a series of recent police actions in Bauchi State targeting violent offences. Earlier on 31 October, the Bauchi State Police Command announced the detention of five suspects accused of raping two minors – a 12‑year‑old girl in Sakwa District, Zaki LGA, and a 10‑year‑old girl in Buskuri Village, Azare, Katagum LGA. Those cases were also transferred to SCID for further investigation. The police have been active across the state, with statements from SP Habib highlighting multiple operations aimed at curbing robbery, sexual offences and other violent crimes.

Why it matters

The robberies directly affected teenage victims and their families, prompting concerns over personal safety in rural and semi‑urban areas of Bauchi. The theft of mobile phones, valued at N120,000 and N20,000 respectively, underscores the economic impact of such crimes on young people. The police’s ability to quickly apprehend the suspects and recover one of the stolen devices demonstrates operational capacity and may serve as a deterrent to similar offences. The ongoing search for the unidentified individual who allegedly received the Itel phone highlights the broader network that can be involved in the distribution of stolen goods.

What happens next

Both cases have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation, according to SP Habib. The police indicated that efforts are "in top gear" to locate the person known as Dan‑Oga and recover the second stolen phone. No further court dates or charges have been disclosed, but the continuation of the investigations suggests that the suspects will face prosecution pending the outcome of SCID’s inquiries.

The Bauchi State Police Command’s recent string of arrests, including those related to robbery and sexual offences, reflects an intensified law‑enforcement focus on violent crime in the region, with the aim of restoring public confidence and ensuring the safety of residents.