Bauchi, Nigeria — The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old woman, Esther Gambo, in connection with the abduction of a newborn baby and the gruesome murder of two young girls in Toro Local Government Area of the state.

Police spokesperson, SP Ahmed Wakil, who disclosed this in an official statement on Thursday, said the suspect, a resident of Lemoro Village, lured two seven-year-old girls Khadija Sama’ila and A’isha Dahiru from Unguwan Sarkin Yaki Village under false pretences.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused lured the girls intending to obtain a newborn female child belonging to Nafisa Dahiru. Following her acquisition of the baby, Esther allegedly led the two girls to a nearby maize farm, where she unlawfully ended their lives with a machete before fleeing the scene,” Wakil said.

Following a swift response by police operatives in collaboration with local vigilante groups, the two girls’ bodies were recovered, the suspect apprehended, and the kidnapped infant rescued unharmed.

Violent Protests Erupt, Churches Attacked

The brutal nature of the crime triggered widespread outrage in the area. Angry youths, mostly from the local Muslim community, launched violent protests, setting fire to churches and attempting to raze the Tulu Divisional Police Headquarters.

The police said reinforcements from Toro Area Command and adjoining divisions were deployed to restore order. Law enforcement agents repelled the mob, preventing further destruction of public facilities.

Sixteen suspects were arrested in connection with the unrest. Those in custody include Abbas Abdullahi (20), Mubarak Auwal (19), Abdullahi Muhammad (alias “P.A”, 19), Dauda Abdullahi (19), Abubakar Sama’ila (18), Abdulmutallib Ibrahim (18), Yazid Auwal (20), Abdulrahman Ibrahim (17), Abdulwahid Sulaiman (17), Salihu Shuaibu (20), Sirajo Halliru (24), Musayib Abdullahi (21), Ibrahim Abubakar (19), Esther Idi (19), Gambo Yakubu (20), and Idi Bitrus (50).

Police Commissioner Condemns Mob Justice

Reacting to the incident, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the killings, the abduction, and the retaliatory attacks, urging residents to allow the law to take its course.

“We understand the anger and grief this tragedy has caused, but justice cannot be served through mob action,” Aliyu said. “Law enforcement must remain the responsibility of trained security agencies.”

He warned against further attacks on religious centres or public institutions, stressing that any attempt to undermine public peace would be met with the full weight of the law.

The Commissioner reassured residents that a thorough investigation is underway and that the command remains committed to ensuring justice for the victims while maintaining public order.

The shocking crime has left the Toro community reeling, with state authorities and security agencies now focused on containing the unrest and bringing all those involved to justice.