The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a Tsangaya school teacher, Lawal Nasiru, 28, for allegedly assaulting and unlawfully confining an 11-year-old Almajiri pupil in Darazo Local Government Area of the state.
The arrest followed a report made to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Darazo by Idris Mohammed of Gidan Waya, a staff of the local Social Welfare Department. The report detailed how the young boy, Sani Abdullahi, was severely beaten and tied up by his teacher.
In a statement released by the police spokesman, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, the incident occurred on September 21, 2025. According to the statement, Nasiru, a resident of Unguwar Jarmai, used a heavy rope to tie the child and beat him with a thick cable and stick, leaving him with serious injuries on his hands and legs.
The victim, Sani Abdullahi, is a student of a Tsangaya Islamic school in the area. He was reportedly held for a long time in harsh conditions before help reached him.
Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer in Darazo, SP Auwalu Ilu, immediately mobilised officers to the location, leading to the arrest of the suspect and rescue of the victim. The injured boy was then rushed to the General Hospital in Darazo for urgent medical attention.
During police interrogation, Nasiru admitted to tying up the pupil but claimed it was to prevent him from running away before his parents arrived. However, the child told the police he was locked up and beaten without any clear reason.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the act and directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Bauchi for further investigation.
He assured the public that justice would be served and that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
“No child deserves such treatment, and we are committed to ensuring the safety and rights of every child in the state,” the police commissioner stated.
The case adds to growing concerns about the treatment of Almajiri children—mostly underage boys who attend Islamic schools, particularly in northern Nigeria. Many of them are often left in the care of unregulated Quranic teachers and live in poor conditions.
As the police continue investigations, attention now turns to the legal process and whether this case will bring renewed focus on the conditions in many informal Islamic schools across the country.
