The Bauchi State Police Command has rescued 17 minors allegedly abusing rubber solution in Bauchi metropolis and arrested two suspected suppliers of the substance.
The command said the operation was aimed at protecting children from substance abuse, disrupting drug supply networks and safeguarding residents.
The police spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, explaining that the intervention followed a report by a concerned resident who apprehended eight minors on Adamu Jumba Street, Bauchi, while they were allegedly inhaling rubber solution.
Habib said the eight minors were apprehended on November 5, 2026, at about 10pm and subsequently handed over to the police.
He added that operatives of the command’s Violent Crimes Response Unit carried out a follow-up operation later that night, leading to the arrest of another nine minors around the Wunti Flyover area for the same offence.
The police spokesperson said the two operations resulted in the rescue of 17 minors, adding that information obtained from them helped the police trace the alleged suppliers.
“Furthermore, acting on the information gathered from the rescued minors, operatives on November 6, 2026, at about 9pm, traced the supply chain and arrested two suspected suppliers,” the statement read.
The suspects were identified as Chimezie Nathan, 41, of Yelwan Makaranta area, Bauchi, and Sani Ali, 25, of Muda Lawan Market, Bauchi.
According to Habib, the police recovered 12 packs of rubber solution during a search conducted in the course of the operation.
He said the rescued minors had been placed in protective custody, while the command was working to identify and reunite them with their parents and guardians.
“Meanwhile, the suspects are in police custody, and discreet investigation is ongoing to uncover other members of the supply chain and ensure they are also brought to justice,” the statement added.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, praised the concerned resident for his vigilance and prompt action, describing the exploitation of children through drug supply as wicked, shameful and unacceptable.
“No child should be exposed to drugs. No criminal should profit from destroying the future of our children.
“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 statement quoted the commissioner as saying.
Aliyu urged parents, guardians, teachers, religious leaders and community leaders to pay closer attention to the activities of their children and report suspicious individuals or incidents to the police.
He also called on residents to support security agencies in addressing substance abuse and related offences across the state.
The command reaffirmed its zero tolerance for drug peddling and child exploitation, promising to sustain raids on identified hotspots.
