The Bauchi State Police Command has thwarted an attempted armed robbery on the Kajala-Kere Road, recovering two stolen motorcycles after the suspected attackers fled the area.
In a separate incident, police arrested a suspect over the death of a 13-year-old boy who allegedly died after a loaded Dane gun accidentally discharged in Gamawa Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, revealed the developments in a statement released on Sunday.
According to Habib, the robbery attempt took place at about 9:45 pm on Saturday when a group of armed hoodlums reportedly blocked the Kajala-Kere Road with cutlasses and sticks and robbed four residents of Kere village.
He explained that a report from the Officer-in-Charge of the Kajala Police Outstation indicated that the assailants attacked Mr Ado and three other male residents of Kere village, taking away two Bajaj motorcycles, two Android phones and a power bank.
Habib said a joint team of police officers from the Burra Division and local vigilantes was immediately deployed to the scene. On noticing the approaching security team, the suspects reportedly abandoned the stolen motorcycles and fled in an unknown direction.
The police spokesperson added that the recovered motorcycles were secured while operatives searched nearby bushes in an effort to track down the fleeing suspects and recover the other stolen property.
Meanwhile, the command has commenced an investigation into the death of 13-year-old Mubarak Mohammed in Udubo village, Gamawa LGA.
Habib said a 35-year-old hunter, Suleiman Hamza, allegedly returned from a hunting trip at about 4:30 pm on Saturday and left his loaded Dane gun carelessly inside his room before stepping out.
The teenager was said to have later entered the room and allegedly pulled the trigger of the firearm. The gun discharged, leaving him with severe injuries that proved fatal.
Detectives from the Gamawa Division were immediately dispatched to the scene to begin preliminary investigations. The victim was subsequently taken to the General Hospital in Gamawa for a post-mortem examination, where a doctor confirmed his death.
Police also documented the scene with photographs before releasing the boy’s remains to his family for burial in line with Islamic rites.
Habib said the suspect had been taken into custody, while the preliminary investigation had been completed and the matter transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further discreet investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, praised the officers for their swift response, which helped frustrate the robbery attempt. He also expressed sorrow over the teenager’s death and warned hunters and other firearm owners to exercise maximum caution when handling weapons.
Aliyu further advised gun owners to properly secure their firearms and keep them away from children to prevent similar tragedies.
The police command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state and appealed to residents to continue assisting security agencies with prompt and reliable information.
