The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested four men over alleged rape, defilement and sexual exploitation involving three girls aged 10, 11 and 12, and a 20-year-old woman described by the police as vulnerable.

The incidents were reported in Ningi, Azare, Shira and Bauchi metropolis between October 8 and 10, 2026, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib.

In the first case, police arrested a 50-year-old man, identified as Musa Ibrahim, popularly known as Musa Fawa, over the alleged defilement of a 10-year-old girl in Gadar Maiwa village, Ningi Local Government Area.

The statement said the victim’s father reported on October 9 that the suspect had allegedly lured his daughter into a guinea corn farm behind their houses, where the incident occurred.

“The victim was evacuated to General Hospital Ningi for medical examination which confirmed sexual assault,” the statement said.

The police added that the suspect had been arrested and confessed to the offence.

In a separate incident in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area, a 20-year-old man, identified as Yakubu Musa, was arrested over the alleged defilement of an 11-year-old girl.

According to the police, the suspect allegedly lured the girl into an empty classroom at Bakoshi Primary School, Azare, on several occasions in September and October 2026.

“The victim was taken to General Hospital Azare for medical examination. The suspect has been arrested and has confessed to the offence,” the statement added.

In Shira Local Government Area, police arrested a 40-year-old man, identified as Abdullahi Sule, over the alleged defilement of a 12-year-old girl in Dago village.

The incident was reported by the victim’s father at Yana Police Division on October 8.

“Investigation revealed the suspect had lured the victim about four times with N500 each time,” the police said.

The command added that the victim had been rescued and taken for medical care, while the suspect was arrested.

In the fourth case, a 55-year-old man, identified as John Madaki, was arrested over the alleged rape of a 20-year-old woman described by the police as having an intellectual disability.

The statement said the woman’s parents reported on October 10 that the suspect had allegedly lured their daughter, given her N1,000 and had sexual intercourse with her.

“The suspect was arrested while the victim was taken to Police Clinic Bauchi for medical examination,” the statement said.

Reacting to the incidents, the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the alleged offences and ordered the immediate transfer of all four cases to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution.

The commissioner described the incidents as “abominable and inhuman acts,” according to the statement.

The command reiterated its commitment to combating sexual and gender-based violence, particularly offences involving children and vulnerable people.

“The Command reiterates its zero tolerance for sexual and gender-based violence, especially against minors and vulnerable persons, and assures the public that justice will be served,” the statement added.

The police also urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.

Exactly 150 days after their children were seized by terrorists, distressed parents of 78 abducted schoolchildren in Borno State have been forced to postpone a planned mass protest at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The postponement comes as the families grapple with crippling poverty, a lack of transport fares, and the struggle to leave behind food for their remaining dependants.

The children have been in captivity following two separate mass kidnappings in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, where 42 school pupils were abducted in Mussa on May 15, and 36 college students were seized in Lassa on June 29, 2026.

Report mentioned on Monday that the desperate families initially issued a six-day ultimatum to the Federal Government between September 21 and 27, 2026, demanding the rescue of their children.

However, the deadline elapsed without any official communication from the government. Compounding their frustration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu travelled out of the country during the period, making a trip to the capital impractical at the time.

Speaking on the expiration of the deadline, the chairman of the Abducted Children’s Parents Association, Ishaku Suya, explained that the families lacked the financial resources required to travel to Abuja and sustain an indefinite protest as planned.

“You know, we must plan it very well. We need to have enough resources to settle our families back home and cover the expenses we will incur in Abuja, because we are not coming back until the President talks to us,” the chairman said.

He noted that many families are currently trying to harvest crops to mobilise funds for the journey. “We must keep food here, pay transport fare, and provide upkeep money while staying there, because no one knows how long we will stay.”

Describing the unbearable toll the situation is taking on the mothers of the victims, Suya said many have stopped eating and abandoned their farms due to the grief.

“They are always crying, and they don’t eat food … They need us very close to them,” he lamented.

He made an emotional appeal to the media and citizens across Nigeria to amplify their voices. “Our children are everyone’s children. I want you to feel the excruciating pain we are enduring.”

Despite the temporary setback regarding the Abuja trip, the parents remain resolute, vowing to storm the Presidential Villa as soon as resources permit.

“We are determined to remain there until we are granted an audience, regardless of the number of days and the difficulties,” said a mother, Josephine Fadi.

The Federal Government has condemned a Houthi militia attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, warning that the incident threatens civilian safety and could worsen tensions in the Middle East.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria considered the attack a “dangerous escalation” that violated Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and undermined efforts to restore peace and stability in the region.

The ministry’s spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, stated this in a statement issued on Sunday, calling on all parties to respect international law and avoid further actions that could widen the conflict.

“Nigeria reiterates its call on all parties to respect international law, exercise utmost restraint, and refrain from any further action that could escalate tensions, endanger civilian lives, damage civilian infrastructure or further undermine regional peace and security,” the statement said.

The Federal Government also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and extended condolences to families of those killed in the attack, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Nigeria further stressed the need to respect Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity and protect civilian lives and critical infrastructure, including facilities essential to public safety.

The government commended Saudi authorities for their emergency response at the airport and their efforts to protect lives and maintain security across the kingdom.

It also reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for diplomatic initiatives and constructive dialogue to prevent further violence, protect civilians and restore stability in the Middle East.

According to report, the attack killed 12 people and injured hundreds, making it the deadliest strike on Saudi soil in more than a decade.

The report added that the Saudi-led coalition vowed a decisive response against Yemen’s Houthi fighters on Sunday, raising fears of further military action.

The latest attack came amid a renewed wave of Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia after a truce in the group’s long-running conflict with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government unravelled in July.

The escalating violence has heightened concerns about a wider regional conflict, with United States President Donald Trump signalling that Washington could join military action against the Houthis.