Three police officers in Bauchi State are currently being held following the death of a suspect, Abubakar Auwal, who passed away while in custody at a divisional police station in Jega.
According to The PUNCH, Auwal was arrested on April 15, 2025, in connection with the alleged theft of trailer rims.
However, he reportedly collapsed the following morning while still in detention.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Bauchi State, SP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday. He disclosed that the suspect was immediately rushed to the General Hospital in Jega but was declared dead later that evening around 10:00 p.m.
“Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Bello Sani, ordered a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the suspect’s death,” SP Abubakar stated.
He added, “Preliminary findings have led to the detention of three officers suspected to have played a role in the incident. Furthermore, the Divisional Police Officer of the station has been issued a query and redeployed.”
Although the names of the detained officers were not disclosed, the police assured the public that justice would be served.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to upholding professionalism and ensuring accountability in its operations,” the statement added.
