Two 13-year-old girls, Aisha and Zainab, have been rescued by the Bauchi State Police Command after being abducted from their community in Taraba State, with two suspects arrested in Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The girls, who had been missing since March, were found in Bara Town following a police investigation triggered by a complaint filed by one of their fathers on March 10, 2026. The incident has drawn attention to child safety concerns across Nigeria’s northern states, where such cases are increasingly reported.
The girls, residents of Fangari Hamlet in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State, were reported missing after they left their homes and failed to return. Despite efforts by their families to locate them, no trace was found until police intelligence led to their discovery in Bauchi State. The police, through coordinated operations and intelligence gathering, tracked the suspects to Bara Town, where the minors were safely recovered.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the two suspects, Auwal Muhammad and Abdulgaffar Musa, both 20 years old and residents of Unguwar Zangoma in Bara Town, were involved in the abduction. They allegedly conspired to take the girls from Taraba State to Bauchi State without the knowledge or consent of their parents. The suspects were arrested immediately upon discovery, and the rescued girls were placed under police protection to ensure their safety and well-being.
The case has now been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution. The police command emphasized that such crimes will not be tolerated and urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant about their children’s movements. Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, stressed the importance of reporting any suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
He stated, “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 police also assured the public of their commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring that those who commit crimes against children face justice.
This rescue operation highlights the ongoing efforts by Nigerian law enforcement to combat child abduction and exploitation, especially in rural areas where such crimes may go unnoticed for extended periods. The successful recovery of Aisha and Zainab serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and swift police response. Authorities expect the case to set a precedent in the prosecution of child-related crimes across the region.
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