The Yobe State Police Command has arrested two suspects over the alleged killing of a day-old baby in Damaturu, the state capital, alongside other related offences.
Condemning the incident, the command expressed deep concern over cases involving abandoned newborn babies, reiterating that every child possesses fundamental rights under the law and deserves protection, care and dignity.
In a statement issued yesterday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, warned that anyone found responsible for violating such rights would face the full weight of the law.
According to him, “on June 23, 2026, at about 4:10 a.m., the Violent Crime Response Unit of the Command responded to a distress call regarding the alleged killing of a newborn baby girl and subsequent concealment of the remains.”
He added that preliminary investigation revealed that a female suspect, who recently gave birth to the baby, was allegedly involved in the strangling of the child, and its remains were concealed in a box before being abandoned behind a mosque at Anguwar Boka area of Damaturu.”
Abdulkarim said police operatives acted promptly and eventually apprehended two suspects, who are currently assisting with the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Usman Jibrin, described the incident as a heinous and inhuman act, stressing that every human life is precious and must be protected.
In a separate development in Ondo State, security personnel yesterday arrested six suspected cultists during an operation carried out by operatives of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad.
The command identified the suspects as Damilare Kayode, 30, Adejoro Godwin, 30, Adedapo Ogunro, 36, Chisom Okechukwu, 21, Ademulegun Imisi, 26, and Odugunle Bukola, 21.
The command’s spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, said the suspects were arrested in Akungba and Iwaro-Akoko within Akoko South West Local Government Area following intelligence reports on the activities of suspected cult members in the area.
According to Jimoh, the suspects were allegedly involved in activities linked to unlawful confraternities within the Akoko axis, which had recently faced security challenges. He added that “a thorough search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of several exhibits believed to be connected with cult-related activities.
“These include five battle axes, a jackknife, various criminal charms, as well as confraternity paraphernalia such as boots, yellow singlets, and faze caps,” Jimoh stated.
“The recovered items have been taken into police custody as exhibits and will form part of the ongoing investigation.”
He further disclosed that intelligence gathered during the operation was being analysed to identify other members of the group and determine the full scope of their activities within and outside the affected communities.
