The Bauchi State Police Command has officially begun enforcing restrictions on the nighttime movement of motorcycles and tricycles within the state capital.
According to Police Public Relations Officer Nafiu Habib, the directive comes in line with an executive order issued by the state government.
Habib explained that the measure became necessary to address increasing criminal activities carried out under the cover of darkness.
He said, “The measure is expedient to ensure suppression of rising criminal activities under the cover of night, as security concerns continue to spill over in some parts of the state. The restriction on motorcycles commences at 8:00 p.m., while that on tricycles commences at 10:00 p.m.”
The police spokesman also addressed a viral video circulating on social media, in which one Ishak Abubakar, popularly known as “Major,” alleged that he was brutalised by police officers and denied his fundamental rights.
Habib described the claim as “malicious, mischievous, and baseless,” adding that it was intended to mislead the public and undermine the command’s efforts.
According to him, the incident in question occurred on April 18, 2026, when officials of the Bauchi State Road Traffic Agency reported at the ‘A’ Divisional Police Headquarters that they had arrested some violators of the Executive Order at the Wunti under-flyover during an enforcement operation.
He stated that the arrested individuals had contacted Abubakar, who later arrived at the scene and allegedly attacked the officials while accusing them of extortion and hurling insults at them.
“The suspect obstructed lawful duty, caused disturbance of public peace, attempted to incite unrest among motorcyclists and tricyclists, and interfered with the enforcement of the Executive Order,” Habib said.
He added that following a report, police reinforcements were deployed to the scene, leading to the arrest of the suspect for further investigations.
While in custody, the police claimed that the suspect continued to behave violently by hitting his head and legs against the cell walls and bars, an act that was duly recorded in the station diary.
Habib further disclosed that upon conclusion of investigations, the suspect was arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court on April 20, 2026, on charges bordering on obstruction, assault, and insulting public officers.
The command reiterated that the allegations of brutality were false and aimed at discrediting security agencies, stressing the need to correct what it described as misleading narratives being circulated by some bloggers.
It also announced the constitution of a special investigation team to thoroughly examine the incident and ensure that all facts are established in line with professional standards.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, warned that the command would not tolerate any form of lawlessness or attacks on security personnel.
He urged residents to remain law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies, adding that violators of the Executive Order would face the full weight of the law.
The command reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining professionalism, accountability, and public trust while calling on citizens to verify information through official channels and disregard unverified claims.
