The Gombe State Police Command says it has made significant breakthroughs in recent operations, rescuing two abandoned infants and arresting two teenage boys for alleged rape.
Police spokesperson, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that the command remains resolute in protecting lives and property across the state.
Abdullahi explained that on September 15, officers rescued a three-month-old baby allegedly given away by her mother, 20-year-old Fatima Abdullahi of Damaturu, Yobe State, in connivance with one Adama Ibrahim.
The baby was handed over to another woman, Fatima Haruna of Liji Quarters, who reportedly fled with the child.
“The suspects were tracked and arrested at the Trailer Park in Tumfure, Akko LGA. Investigation is ongoing, and they will be charged to court as soon as possible,” the statement read.
In a separate incident on September 9, a newborn boy abandoned in a carton was brought to Gona Police Division by a tricycle rider, Auwal Abdullahi.
The rider told police that an unidentified woman had boarded his tricycle, dropped off at YD Filling Station Junction under the pretext of withdrawing money from a POS, and never returned. On checking the carton she left behind, he discovered the baby.
The infant has since been handed over to the Gombe State Social Welfare Department while investigations continue.
READ ALSO: Gombe Govt, Police Face N50m Lawsuit Over Motorcycle Ban
Meanwhile, two 14-year-old herders, Danladi Babangida and Samaila Sulaiman, have been arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl while she was fetching firewood in Pindiga, Akko LGA.
“Following a complaint lodged on September 12, the suspects were arrested and confessed to the crime. The victim and suspects were taken to General Hospital, Kashere, for medical examination. The case is now with the Gender Unit of the State CID for further investigation,” Abdullahi stated.
The Police Command condemned sexual violence and child abandonment, urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
“The Command will continue to intensify efforts in protecting the vulnerable, ensuring perpetrators of heinous crimes face the full wrath of the law,” the spokesperson assured.
Cases of child abandonment and sexual assault remain recurring concerns in Gombe and other parts of the North-East, where economic hardship and insecurity have worsened vulnerabilities.