A 5-year-old boy who was found chained by his father and starved for three days has been rescued by operatives of the Bauchi Police Command.

The rescue came after a tip-off from concerned neighbours in the Gwallagan Mayaka area in the Bauchi metropolis.

The police got wind of the child abuse on July 3, 2024, when the ward head of Gwallagan Mayaka area of Bauchi reported that he received information from a good Samaritan, a resident, who revealed that his wife Amina (not real name) had informed him that she saw a 5-year-old boy of their neighbour tied with a chain inside a room situated at the same address.

Amina promptly checked on the boy to confirm his condition and found him lying unconscious, tied with a chain.

Spokesman of the Command, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil revealed in a statement made available to journalists in Bauchi on Friday that on receipt of the information, a team of detectives led by CSP Mubarak S. Baba, DPO D’ Division, Dutsen Tanshi moved to the scene and rescued the boy.

The statement revealed that during an interview, the victim who identified himself as Hussaini Abubakar, disclosed that he was maltreated by his biological father, Abubakar Nuhu, ‘m’, 50yrs, AKA Wanzam of Gwallagan Mayaka.

The minor also revealed that he had been confined by his father, during which he went without food for three days.

According to the statement, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Musa Muhammad immediately directed the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, to apprehend the offender for investigation and prosecution for the established offence.

Wakil said during interrogation, the suspect, Abubakar Nuhu popularly known as Wanzam was arrested for the offence of child abuse.

The defendant had claimed to have confined the minor “in order to restrict him from stealing their neighbour’s valuables” and he was advised to do so by a friend.

The PPRO said the CP had directed the DPO to transfer the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, State CID, and directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department to discreetly investigate the matter and other motives surrounding the dastardly act.