Bauchi, Nigeria (BN24) – The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 19-year-old woman, Esther Gambo, over the alleged kidnapping of a newborn and the brutal murder of two seven-year-old girls, in a case that has triggered public unrest and violent protests across Toro Local Government Area.
According to a statement released Thursday by Police Public Relations Officer SP Ahmed Wakil, Gambo, a resident of Lemoro Village, was taken into custody after police and local vigilante groups launched a swift operation in response to a reported abduction and homicide in Unguwan Sarkin Yaki.
Authorities say the suspect lured Khadija Sama’ila and A’isha Dahiru, both aged seven, under false pretenses, with the intent of kidnapping a newborn female child belonging to one Nafisa Dahiru. Following the abduction of the infant, Gambo allegedly led the two young girls to a maize farm on the outskirts of the village, where she used a machete to fatally attack them before fleeing the scene.
Police operatives successfully recovered the bodies of the slain girls and rescued the abducted baby, who is now in safe custody.
In the aftermath of the gruesome incident, tensions escalated among the local population, especially within the Muslim youth community, leading to violent demonstrations. Several churches were set ablaze, and mobs attempted to torch the Tulu Divisional Police Headquarters. The police said reinforcements from Area Command Toro and neighboring divisions were deployed to quell the uprising and secure public infrastructure.
Sixteen individuals, ranging in age from 17 to 50, were arrested in connection with the violence. Those in custody include Abbas Abdullahi, Mubarak Auwal, Abdullahi Muhammad (alias P.A), Dauda Abdullahi, and Esther Idi, among others. Charges are expected to follow pending further investigation.
Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu has condemned both the crime and the retaliatory violence, urging citizens to respect legal processes and allow law enforcement to carry out its duties without interference. He emphasized that justice will be pursued but warned against vigilantism, calling for calm and cooperation as investigations continue.
The command reiterated its commitment to public safety, affirming that the case will be treated with the urgency and thoroughness it demands.
