BAUCHI — Homicide detectives in Bauchi State have opened an investigation into the death of a 39-year-old man, Abdulrazak Ibrahim, who reportedly died while in the custody of a local vigilante group in Bauchi metropolis.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident on Friday, saying three members of the Bakin Kura Vigilante Group had been arrested and detained for questioning.
According to preliminary police findings, Ibrahim was invited to the Bakin Kura Vigilante Office after his mother, Hauwa Ibrahim, lodged a theft complaint against him. The vigilante group was said to have been asked to investigate the allegation, recover the alleged stolen items and identify possible buyers of the property.
However, Ibrahim died under unclear circumstances while being held at the vigilante facility.
Police said the Chairman of the Bakin Kura Vigilante Group reported the incident on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at about 6:39 p.m., prompting the command to deploy homicide detectives from the ‘A’ Division Township to the scene.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, said the three arrested vigilante members were taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation. He added that Ibrahim’s body had been deposited at the mortuary of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi.
Habib said a preliminary examination of the body did not show visible signs of physical violence or external trauma. He, however, noted that an autopsy would be conducted to establish the actual cause of death.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident, assuring the public that the command would pursue the matter professionally and ensure justice is served.
Aliyu condemned all forms of extrajudicial action and warned community security groups and individuals against taking the law into their own hands. He said complaints involving suspected crimes should be handled within the limits of the law and under proper security supervision.
The police commissioner also appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid speculation while investigators work to determine what happened before Ibrahim’s death.
He assured the public that the outcome of the investigation would be made known, adding that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
The case has renewed concerns over the activities of local vigilante groups and the need for stronger oversight to prevent unlawful detention, abuse of authority and jungle justice.
