Operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command have rescued a man reportedly locked indoors and restrained with chains by his biological father for nearly 17 years in Shadawanka village, Bauchi Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement issued, the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, said the victim, Muhammad Lawan, also known as Babangida, was freed on Sunday, February 16, 2026, after a whistleblower notified the authorities of his condition.
Habib explained that detectives from ‘B’ Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer and accompanied by the spokesperson, visited the residence following the tip-off.
On arrival, the officers found the man in a weak and severely emaciated state. He was immediately released from confinement and taken away from the location.
The suspect, identified as Mohammed Lawan, was arrested at the scene and remains in police custody.
The rescued victim has been admitted to a hospital, where he is receiving medical attention and undergoing rehabilitation.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered a preliminary investigation into the incident and directed that the matter be handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a detailed probe into the alleged prolonged detention and degrading treatment.
The Police assured that additional information would be provided as the investigation progresses.
