Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Police have arrested two young men suspected of belonging to a nine-member gang accused of robbing residents and inflicting machete injuries on them in Bauchi metropolis.
The suspects, identified as Salisu Ibrahim, 19, and Shuaibu A. Ladan, 21, were arrested following an attack on two residents who were dispossessed of their mobile phones and sustained injuries to their heads and hands.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the victims reported the incident to the Violent Crimes Response Unit, Hawk Base, on October 24, 2026.
According to the statement, the victims, who reside in Unguwar Mahaukata and Unguwar Kur, were attacked at about 9 pm by a gang of nine suspected thugs armed with cutlasses and sticks.
“The two male complainants reported that a gang of about nine thugs, armed with cutlasses and sticks, attacked them and dispossessed them of their valuables,” the statement read.
The stolen items included an Infinix Smart 10 valued at ₦120,000, a Nokia Android phone worth ₦65,000, a Tecno Spark 40 valued at ₦95,000 and an Infinix Hot i worth ₦60,000.
Habib said operatives launched an investigation after receiving the complaint, leading to the arrest of the two suspects, both of Unguwar Hardo in Bauchi.
He said, “Sequel to the report, operatives attached to Hawk Base swung into action, traced and arrested Salisu Ibrahim, ‘M’, 19 years old, and Shuaibu A. Ladan, ‘M’, 21 years old, both of Unguwar Hardo, Bauchi.”
The police spokesman added that the suspects confessed during interrogation to being members of the gang involved in the robbery.
“During interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to being members of the gang that robbed the complainants,” he said.
Police also recovered a cutlass used in the attack, while efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and recover the stolen mobile phones.
Habib further disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, had ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Bauchi for discreet investigation and prosecution.
“The Commissioner of Police reiterates the command’s zero tolerance for thuggery, gangsterism and all forms of violent crimes, and assures law-abiding citizens of the command’s resolve to ensure their safety and security,” the statement added.
