BAUCHI — In a disturbing case of prolonged domestic abuse, the Bauchi State Police Command has rescued a 17-year-old man who was allegedly confined and leg-chained by his biological father for the entirety of his life.
The victim, identified as Muhammad Lawan, popularly known as Babangida, was discovered after a good Samaritan alerted authorities to his plight. Police spokesperson SP Nafiu Habib confirmed the rescue in a statement on Monday.
“Seventeen Years Without Care”
According to Habib, the report was received on February 16, 2026, at approximately 4:20 pm. It alleged that the victim’s father, Mohammed Lawan, had kept his son confined within the family home for 17 years—essentially since birth—without providing proper care.
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A team of detectives led by the DPO of ‘B’ Division, accompanied by the command’s Public Relations Officer, immediately visited the scene. There, they found and rescued the victim, whom Habib described as “very emaciated,” indicating prolonged neglect and malnutrition.
Father Arrested, Victim Hospitalized
The father has been taken into police custody and is currently being held for questioning. Meanwhile, the rescued teenager has been rushed to a hospital for urgent medical attention and rehabilitation.
The police plan to conduct a preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding what Habib termed an “inhumane act.” The case will subsequently be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a more thorough probe.
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The allegations raise profound questions about how such extended abuse could go unnoticed or unreported for nearly two decades, and what mechanisms might have allowed a father to imprison his own child in plain sight.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities have not disclosed any possible motive behind the alleged confinement, nor have they detailed the conditions in which the victim was kept beyond the leg-chain and lack of care.
The case adds to a growing list of disturbing domestic captivity incidents that have shocked the Nigerian public in recent years, highlighting the critical importance of community vigilance and robust child protection mechanisms.
