The Bauchi State Police Command has launched an investigation into the death of 39-year-old Abdulrazak Ibrahim, who reportedly died while in the custody of vigilantes at Bakin Kura in Bauchi Local Government Area.

The incident was reported to the police on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at about 6:39 pm by the chairman of the Bakin Kura Vigilante Group.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the command said preliminary findings indicated that Ibrahim had been invited to the vigilante office following a theft complaint filed by his mother, Hauwa Ibrahim.

According to the police, the deceased was brought in for questioning, recovery of allegedly stolen property and to assist in identifying possible receivers of the items.

“It is unfortunate that during the process, Abdulrazak Ibrahim died while in the custody of the vigilantes,” the command said.

Following the report, detectives from the ‘A’ Division Township were deployed to the scene to begin investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death.

The police said three members of the vigilante group who were on duty at the time had been arrested and detained to assist investigators in establishing what happened.

“The Commissioner of Police has directed that the matter be thoroughly investigated to ensure justice is served,” the statement added.

The remains of Ibrahim were evacuated to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital mortuary in Bauchi, where they were deposited for preservation.

The command said an initial physical examination of the corpse showed that the body was intact, with no visible signs of violence.

However, the police said an autopsy would be conducted to determine the actual cause of death.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, also warned against jungle justice and extrajudicial actions, stressing that suspected offences must be handled through lawful procedures.

“The command reiterates its commitment to upholding the rule of law and will not condone any act of jungle justice or extrajudicial action by individuals or groups,” the police said.

The command urged members of the public to remain calm, assuring them that the outcome of the investigation would be made public in due course.

The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued 75 travellers who were allegedly abducted by suspected bandits and held in a cave near Folwaya Village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.

The victims, including men, women and children, were travelling in commercial vehicles when they were intercepted by armed men and taken into the forest.

Police spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the rescue followed information provided by the Birnin Gwari branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

The incident occurred at about 5:30 pm on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

Hassan said police officers from the Birnin Gwari Area Command were quickly deployed to the area after receiving the report.

“The Kaduna State Police Command received credible information from the NURTW, Birnin Gwari Branch, that some Fulani men, women, and children travelling in commercial buses were abducted by unknown armed men wielding AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons at Folwaya Village, near Birnin Gwari,” he said.

“On sighting the well-armed police operatives, the abductors fled, abandoning their captives, who were successfully rescued unharmed,” Hassan added.

The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, praised the NURTW branch for providing “timely and vital information” that helped the police respond quickly.

He also commended the Birnin Gwari Area Commander and his team for their “swift and professional response” to the incident.

The police urged residents to remain vigilant and share useful information with security agencies to help prevent kidnappings and other attacks in the state.

The Benue State Police Command has rescued the 13 remaining passengers abducted along the Otukpo–Adoka Road while travelling from Enugu to Abuja.

The victims were among passengers kidnapped on August 14, 2026, after gunmen intercepted their vehicle along the road and whisked them into the bush.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, confirmed the rescue in a statement on Friday.

According to the Command, the victims were rescued at about 2:00 am on August 20 at Amla-Cho Forest in Otukpo Local Government Area following about five days of sustained search and rescue operations.

The operation was carried out by police operatives in collaboration with local security personnel after intelligence reportedly led them to the location where the victims were being held.

Police said the operatives encountered the kidnappers during the night operation, but the suspects fled under the cover of darkness.

All 13 victims were rescued unhurt.

The Command also disclosed that one of the suspected kidnappers had earlier been killed during an encounter with security operatives.

According to the statement, operatives searching for the abducted passengers encountered the kidnappers at about 6:00pm on August 16, leading to a fierce gun battle.

One of the suspects was neutralised during the exchange, while an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of live ammunition were recovered.

Following their rescue, the victims were taken to a medical facility for examination and treatment before being transported to their respective destinations in a chartered bus.

The police also clarified discrepancies surrounding the actual number of passengers kidnapped during the incident.

According to the Command, the initial passenger manifest showed that nine persons were still in captivity following the earlier rescue of five victims.

Further verification, however, revealed that four additional passengers were not captured on the manifest, bringing the number rescued in the latest operation to 13.

The development prompted the Command to caution transport operators on the importance of maintaining accurate passenger manifests.

The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Cletus C.N. Nwadiogbu, commended the operatives involved in the operation for their courage and resilience.

Nwadiogbu assured residents that efforts were being intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

He also urged residents, particularly those in affected communities, to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in apprehending the suspects and preventing further attacks.

The Command advised transport operators to maintain accurate and complete passenger manifests for every journey, noting that proper documentation could facilitate the identification and rescue of passengers during emergencies.