Bauchi reports 592 criminal cases in one year as rape, homicide and kidnapping surge

Bauchi State has recorded 592 criminal cases in the 2024–2025 legal year, with rape, homicide and kidnapping among the most prevalent offences, according to official figures released by the Ministry of Justice.

Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Hassan Usman, SAN, disclosed the statistics at the opening of the 2025–2026 legal year in Bauchi on Tuesday. He revealed that the state handled 75 homicide cases, 28 kidnappings and 86 rape cases within the period.

Robbery incidents also increased, rising to 91 cases from 83 in the previous legal year.

Usman said only 97 of the criminal matters were concluded, while 15 were discharged based on legal advice. A total of 454 cases remain pending in various courts across the state.

He noted that the Ministry has introduced new measures to speed up prosecutions, including setting timelines for filing charges and ensuring courts adhere to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

Bauchi State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Umar, expressed concern over what she described as a recurring habit of filing charges before completing preliminary investigations.

She said: “In many cases, efforts to gather evidence are only initiated after the trial has begun. This backward approach significantly delays justice and undermines public confidence in our legal system.”

Justice Umar added that a committee has been set up to review the state’s criminal justice framework and propose amendments to address systemic delays.