Azare Clash: Bauchi Police Arrest 15 Suspects

Operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command have arrested 15 persons in the connection with the communal clash between youths of Tsakuwa and Matsango communities in Azare, headquarters of Katagum local government area.

“The command received a distress call at about 0015hrs on the 5th July, 2026, from a Good Samaritan in Tsakuwa area, Azare, indicating a violent clash between youths from Tsakuwa and Matsango areas”, the police spokesperson, SP Nafi’u Habib, said.

Habib said normalcy had since returned to the two areas as efforts were on to arrest more accomplices, and advised the residents to go about their lawful businesses with security presence being intensified.

He revealed that about 10 persons from both sides sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the Federal University Health Science Teaching Hospital (FUHSTH), Azare, for medical attention.

He said, “The command received a distress call at about 0015hrs on the 5th July, 2026 from an anonymous good samaritan in Tsakuwa area.”

“Upon receipt of the information, patrol teams were immediately dispatched to the scene. The rioting youths were dispersed through the use of minimal force, and concerted efforts were made to prevent further escalation”.

SP Nafi’u Habib explained that following the incident, the state commissioner of police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu

personally led a team of senior officers to Azare to assess the situation, engage community stakeholders, and evaluate the command’s response.

According to him, CP Aliyu commended the Area Commander, Azare, Divisional Police Officer, operatives of No.10 Squadron, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU), and Quasi-security outfits for their swift intervention which prevented loss of lives and further destruction of property.

The affected areas and injured victims were visited. Homage was also paid to HRH Alh. Umar Faruq II,  ,Emir of Katagum at his palace, where the emir appreciated the command’s professionalism in timely enforcement and restoration of law and order.

Alh. Umar Faruk pledged the emirate’s support in identifying, apprehending and prosecuting the culprits using all the legitimate means.

The CP has earlier directed sustained patrol and 24-hour monitoring in the affected areas to ensure full restoration of normalcy and to forestall any reprisal attack. He also ordered discreet investigation into the remote and immediate causes of the clash, with a view to arresting and prosecuting the ringleaders.

CP Omolori also urged parents, community/religious leaders, and youth groups in Azare to embrace dialogue and shun violence, and reiterated the Command’s commitment to the protection of lives and property and warned that anyone found culpable will face the full wrath of the law.