Police in Bauchi State have arrested four suspects in separate cases involving alleged illegal firearm production and possession, as well as the alleged rape of a 50-year-old mentally ill woman.
Three of the suspects were arrested in Misau Local Government Area over an alleged locally fabricated pistol, while the fourth was arrested in Gamawa LGA over the alleged rape.
In Misau, police arrested 30-year-old Abubakar Ahmad, also known as Tino, after allegedly finding him with a locally made pistol loaded with a live cartridge at Chief Magistrate Court 1 on September 25.
Police said Ahmad was allegedly attempting to deliver the weapon to Tijjani Yakubu, 35, who was already being held at a correctional centre over alleged criminal conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen property.
Yakubu allegedly told investigators that the pistol belonged to him and that he had given it to Ahmad for safekeeping.
Further investigation reportedly led police to 48-year-old Bappah Kawu, a welder from Tashar Masu, Misau, who allegedly admitted fabricating and selling the pistol to Yakubu for N30,000.
A search of Kawu’s workshop allegedly uncovered two locally fabricated Dane guns, alongside a hacksaw, files and long iron pipes believed to have been used for firearm production.
The three suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Bauchi for further investigation.
In Gamawa, police also arrested 26-year-old Lukman Alhaji Nasiru of Garin Malam Village over the alleged rape of a 50-year-old woman described by the police as mentally ill.
The woman’s younger brother reportedly alerted the police on September 25, alleging that Nasiru had lured her to the outskirts of Garin Malam on September 22 and sexually assaulted her.
Police said the victim and suspect were taken to General Hospital, Gamawa, for medical examination as investigation into the allegation continued.
The Bauchi Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, said the command would continue to pursue cases involving illegal firearms and sexual offences, while urging residents to provide information that could help prevent crime.
