The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 72-year-old man for allegedly chaining his 40-year-old biological son for 17 years without care in Shadawanka Village, on the outskirts of Bauchi Local Council of the state.
The incident came to light on February 16, 2026, at about 1:30 p.m., following a distress call from members of the community who reported the alleged inhumane treatment. Police operatives subsequently moved to the scene.
It was gathered that the Divisional Police Officer of ‘B’ Division, alongside officers from the Police Response and Special Patrol Unit, led a team of detectives to the house, where they found the victim helpless inside a room with a chain on his right leg.
The father, identified as Muhammad Lawan, was arrested and taken into custody, while the victim was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, said in a statement: “On 16th February, 2026, at about 1620hrs, information was received from a good Samaritan that one Muhammad Lawan, popularly known as Babangida, had been confined by his biological father, Mohammed Lawan, in his house for seventeen (17) years without care.”
He said the case was under investigation, adding that the Command would conduct a preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding the act before transferring the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department for thorough investigation.
The Police Command assured the public that perpetrators of such acts would face the full weight of the law.
