The Bauchi State Police Command has launched an investigation into the death of Abdulrazak Ibrahim, 39, who reportedly died while in guard custody at Bakin Kura in Bauchi Local Government Area.
The incident was reported to the police on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at around 6:39 pm by the president of the Bakin Kura Vigilante Group.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the command said preliminary findings indicated that Ibrahim had been invited to the surveillance office following a theft complaint lodged by his mother, Hauwa Ibrahim.
According to police, the deceased was brought in for questioning, to recover the allegedly stolen property and to help identify potential recipients of the items.
“It is unfortunate that during the process, Abdulrazak Ibrahim died while in the custody of the guards,” the command said.
Following the report, detectives from Division ‘A’ Township responded to the scene to begin investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Police said three members of the vigilante group who were on duty at the time had been arrested and detained to help investigators establish what happened.
“The police commissioner has ordered that the matter be thoroughly investigated to ensure that justice is done,” the statement added.
Ibrahim’s remains were evacuated to the mortuary of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital in Bauchi, where they were deposited for preservation.
The command said an initial physical examination of the corpse showed that the body was intact, with no visible signs of violence.
However, police said an autopsy would be conducted to determine the actual cause of death.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, also warned against jungle justice and extrajudicial actions, stressing that alleged crimes must be addressed through legal procedures.
“The command reiterates its commitment to uphold the rule of law and will not tolerate any act of jungle justice or extrajudicial action by individuals or groups,” the police said.
The command urged citizens to remain calm and assured them that the result of the investigation would be made public in due time.