- Bauchi Police rescue middle-aged man allegedly chained for 17 years
- Victim identified as Muhammad Lawan, popularly called Babangida
- Father arrested and placed in police custody
- Victim currently receiving medical care and rehabilitation
The Bauchi State Police Command has rescued a middle-aged man who was allegedly confined and kept in chains by his biological father for about 17 years in Shadawanka village, Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
According to a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, the victim, identified as Muhammad Lawan, also known as Babangida, was rescued on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
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The police spokesperson explained that the rescue followed a report from a concerned good Samaritan who alerted authorities to the man’s condition. Acting on the information, a team of detectives from the Bauchi State Police Command, led by the Divisional Police Officer of ‘B’ Division, visited the residence where the man was allegedly being held.
On arrival, officers found the victim in a severely weakened condition and immediately moved him out of the premises. The suspect, identified as the victim’s father, Mohammed Lawan, was arrested on the spot and taken into police custody.
The rescued man has since been transferred to a hospital, where he is receiving medical treatment and undergoing rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered a preliminary investigation into the incident. He further directed that the case be handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a detailed probe into the alleged inhumane treatment.
Police authorities assured the public that more details would be released as investigations continue.