Police Net ‘Fake Okada’ Rider Over Alleged Rape, Robbery of 35 Women in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 53-year-old man accused of posing as a commercial motorcyclist to kidnap, rob and sexually assault dozens of women in the state capital.

Gambo Hassan, popularly known as “Anahaka” and a resident of Igbo Quarters in Bauchi, was picked up on the evening of 11 September 2026 by operatives of the ‘B’ Division, GRA, during a routine patrol along Adamu Jumba Road. Police said the arrest, which occurred around 8:45 pm, followed intelligence-led operations targeting criminal activity in the metropolis.

According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, preliminary findings indicate that Hassan allegedly operated under the guise of an “Okada” rider, particularly in the evenings. He is said to have targeted unsuspecting passengers—especially women—luring them before kidnapping, robbing and, in some instances, raping them. At the time of his arrest, officers recovered a sharp knife from him. He was riding a Bajaj motorcycle registered as BAU 150G and was wearing a black face mask and face cap.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to the offences and helped detectives identify victims. Police initially linked him to 15 women in Bauchi metropolis; the number of identified alleged victims later rose to 35.

A search warrant executed at his residence yielded a haul of items police described as suspected proceeds of crime. These included 15 mobile phones of various brands (among them a Samsung Galaxy Fold, Redmi, two iTel, two iPhones, four Infinix and two Tecno models), three power banks, six ladies’ wristwatches, six assorted native caps, five bundles of women’s wrappers, three women’s hijabs, ₦425,435 in cash, and some Kenyan and Turkish currency notes, along with other items.

Hassan and the recovered exhibits have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Bauchi for further discreet investigation and eventual prosecution. Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu, mni, psc(+), praised the detectives involved for their vigilance and professionalism. He reiterated the Command’s determination to crack down on criminal elements and urged members of the public—particularly any other victims—to come forward with information that could assist the probe.

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The case has drawn attention across major Nigerian media outlets, which have carried the police account of a calculated pattern of attacks exploiting the trust placed in commercial motorcycle transport, a common mode of movement in many Nigerian cities.

Investigations continue, and police have not released further details on the timeline of the alleged offences or the identities of the victims, citing ongoing inquiries.