Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Bauchi State successfully rescued 17 underage children found inhaling rubber solution and apprehended two suspected vendors supplying the intoxicant within the Bauchi metropolis, following a swift security intervention.
The crackdown commenced after an observant local resident intercepted eight minors engaged in substance abuse along Adamu Jumba Street around 10 p.m. on November 5, 2026, promptly transferring them to law enforcement authorities.
Building upon this initial intervention, police teams combed the Wunti Flyover district later that same night, pulling another nine vulnerable minors out of potential harm and bringing the cumulative tally of rescued children to 17.
What led law enforcement to the suspected vendors?
According to the command's public relations officer, SP Nafiu Habib, intelligence gathered from the interrogated minors facilitated a subsequent sting operation on November 6, which resulted in the apprehension of the alleged suppliers.
The detained individuals were officially identified as 41-year-old Chimezie Ezikiel Nathan, a resident of the Yelwan Makaranta district, and 25-year-old Sani Ali, hailing from the Muda Lawan Market area, both located within Bauchi.
During a thorough search conducted on the suspects, law enforcement officers recovered 12 packs of rubber solution intended for distribution.
What measures are being taken for the rescued minors?
Authorities confirmed that all 17 rescued children have been placed in protective custody while ongoing efforts are prioritized to trace their parents and legal guardians for safe family reunification.
Meanwhile, the two arrested suspects remain detained as detectives widen their dragnet to dismantle the broader illicit supply chain.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, lauded the vigilance of the citizen who raised the alarm, condemning the exploitation of minors through illicit substances as callous and intolerable.
"No child should be exposed to drugs. No criminal should profit from destroying the future of our children," the commissioner stated.
He further affirmed, "We will continue to pursue, arrest and prosecute all those who supply drugs to minors, and we will ensure that every rescued child is protected and reunited with family."
The police chief appealed to parents, educators, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to maintain vigilant supervision over youngsters and report suspicious behaviors to security agencies without delay.
He also reassured residents that the command remains unwavering in its commitment to root out drug peddling and child endangerment across identified vulnerable zones in the state.