Police Rescue Two Abducted Taraba Girls, Arrest Suspects 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 suspects linked to the incident in Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The victims, identified as Aisha and Zainab, both aged 13, reportedly disappeared from Fangari Hamlet in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State in March 2026.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Command, SP Nafiu Habib.

According to the statement, the case began on March 10, 2026, when the father of one of the girls reported to the police that his daughter and her friend had gone missing after leaving home and could not be located despite efforts by relatives and community members.

Following the complaint, security operatives launched an investigation and commenced intelligence gathering to trace the whereabouts of the missing girls.

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

Preliminary findings revealed that two young men, identified as Auwal Muhammad and Abdulgaffar Musa, both 20 years old and residents of Unguwar Zangoma in Bara Town, allegedly conspired to transport the minors from Taraba State to Bauchi State without the knowledge or approval of their parents.

The suspects were subsequently arrested by the police, while the rescued girls were taken into protective custody pending arrangements for their reunion with family members.

Authorities disclosed that the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling crimes involving children and vulnerable persons.

He warned that the police would not tolerate any form of child abduction, trafficking or exploitation within the state and beyond.

“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 said.

The police assured residents that investigations into the case would continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the movement of the girls and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.