Bauchi State Police have rescued a five-year-old boy who was allegedly chained up by his father in the State. Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Auwal Muhammad, said that the boy was kept in a room for three days without enough food. He stated that the incident was brought to light on July 3, 2024, when a concerned person reported it to the ward leader.

“According to the report received by the Ward Head, a resident of the same area had spotted the young boy tied with a chain inside a room, ” said the Corporal Punishment Officer.

“Upon verifying the distressing information, the local authorities were alerted and promptly responded and a team of detectives led by CSP Mubarak S. Baba, the Divisional Police Officer of D’ Division (Dutsen Tanshi), swiftly arrived at the scene and rescued the child.”

According to the Commissioner, the boy confessed in subsequent interviews that his father, Abubakar Nuhu, also known as Wanzam, mistreated him severely. He claimed the child was confined and neglected, going for days without proper care or food, and that the suspect was later arrested for child abuse.

“During interrogation, the accused claimed he had confined his son to prevent him from stealing from neighbours, purportedly advised by an acquaintance,” he added.

Briefing journalists in Bauchi on Thursday, July 4, 2024, the suspect detailed how he received complaints from neighbors about his son. “I was often receiving complaints from neighbours about my son stealing food from them. He breaks into their homes through the window and steals just their food. I realized that beating him would not solve the problem, so a neighbour recommended that I tie him up with a chain whenever I was not at home,” the suspect stated.

The CP then ordered that the case be sent to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a full investigation. He especially directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police to investigate more into the causes behind such horrific abuse.

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