The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested four suspects accused of perpetrating separate cases of sexual offences against minors and attempted shop-breaking.
The suspects, Gidado Adamu and Abba Umaru, both 20 years, as well as 22-year-old Auwalu Wada were nabbed by the security agency who disclosed that the trio lured young girls to secluded locations and sexually assaulted them, another Umar Ladan, accused of breaking into shops.
The Command, on Wednesday, stated that the incidents occurred between September 6 and September 14 in Chokle Quarters and Samamuro Village in Katagum Local Government Area, as well as Buskuri Village in Madara District and Bununu town.
According to the police, detectives attached to Azare Division handled the cases involving the minors, while a joint patrol comprising police operatives and members of the Yan Committee arrested the suspected burglar in Bununu.
Police spokesman, SP Nafiu Habib, said one suspects was allegedly caught after an eight-year-old girl raised an alarm when he took her to a farm at Chokle Quarters.
Another suspect was arrested following a complaint by the father of a 10-year-old girl who allegedly escaped after screaming for help when Umaru took her to a farm.
The command also identified another suspect accused of sexually assaulting two seven-year-old girls after allegedly taking them into an uncompleted building.
The police said all the child victims were taken to General Hospital, Azare, for medical attention, while the suspects were transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Bauchi for further investigation and prosecution.
In the separate Bununu incident, another suspect was arrested after patrol operatives found him wearing a hijab while attempting to break into shops.
Police said he was unable to give a satisfactory explanation for his presence and actions.
Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu commended the officers involved in the operations and warned that the command would take action against gender-based violence and other criminal activities.
He also urged parents and guardians to remain alert and report suspicious activities involving children and other vulnerable people to the authorities.