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From Paul Orude, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Command has arraigned Muhammad Mustapha Makama, a 45-year-old operative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), over the alleged rape of an eight-year-old girl.
The arraignment follows weeks of pressure from the victim’s family and human rights advocates, who publicly accused law enforcement authorities of delaying the prosecution.
The incident was reported on July 5, 2026, to the ‘E’ Division of the Nigeria Police Force in Bauchi.
According to reports, the 45-year-old NDLEA operative allegedly lured the child before committing the assault.
Following his arrest, the suspect remained in police custody for more than three weeks without being formally charged.
The delay prompted the victim’s mother, Salamatu Musa, to seek legal assistance to break the deadlock.
Human rights advocate Barrister Alkasim Mohammed, founder of the Organisation for African Child Development and Human Rights Protection, subsequently intervened to support the family’s pursuit of justice.
The organisation submitted a formal petition to the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police titled:
“Urgent Demand for Immediate Prosecution of Muhammad Mustapha Makama of NDLEA for the Offence of Rape Pursuant to the Provisions of Sections 278 and 279: A Case for Justice.”
He stated:
“We write on the authority and briefing of Salamatu Musa, the mother of the alleged rape victim, to seek justice for her daughter.”
Barrister Alkasim added that the organisation intervened to prevent the case from being swept under the rug.
Following the petition, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Nafiyu Habib, confirmed that detectives had concluded their preliminary investigations, paving the way for the suspect to be formally charged before the court.
The case was scheduled for its first substantive hearing at Bauchi High Court 12 on Thursday.
The atmosphere at the court complex was tense as the families of both the victim and the suspect arrived in large numbers seeking updates on the proceedings.
However, substantive legal proceedings could not commence as scheduled because the presiding judge, Aliyu Bin Idris, was indisposed, resulting in an adjournment.
Despite the delay, the court ordered that Muhammad Mustapha Makama be remanded at the local correctional centre pending further proceedings.
He will remain in custody until the court fixes a new date for the commencement of the trial.
