Residents of Bauchi State have expressed relief following the World Boy arrest, after police operatives apprehended a suspected armed robber believed to be responsible for a string of violent attacks across parts of the state capital.
The suspect, identified as Yakubu Mohammed Auwal and popularly known by the nickname “World Boy,” was taken into custody by officers of the Bauchi State Police Command.
Authorities say the 22-year-old had built a reputation for violent activities associated with the notorious Sara-Suka street gangs operating in parts of northern Nigeria.
The arrest was made public in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Nafiu Habib, on March 12, 2026.
According to the police statement, the World Boy arrest followed a rapid response by officers attached to the ‘C’ Divisional Police Headquarters after they received an emergency distress call from a resident who had been attacked during a robbery.
Police said the incident occurred on March 8, 2026, at about 11:50 a.m. The suspect was reportedly caught in the act while attempting to rob a resident named Shamsuddeen in the Anguwan Sarakuna area of Bauchi metropolis.
During the attack, the victim was injured after being stabbed in the thigh before his Tecno POP 5 mobile phone was taken.
Officers who arrived at the scene quickly apprehended the suspect and recovered the stolen phone.
Investigators say this immediate intervention ultimately led to the World Boy arrest, preventing further harm to the victim and enabling police to uncover additional crimes allegedly linked to the suspect.
Following his arrest, detectives reportedly launched a deeper investigation which connected the suspect to several earlier robbery incidents in the city.
Authorities believe the same suspect had participated in a series of violent crimes that left multiple victims injured.
One of the incidents reportedly occurred on March 7 in the Magaji Quarters area of Bauchi.
According to police findings, the suspect allegedly acted together with another man identified as Bala Mohammed, also known as “Balagus.”
Police investigators said the two suspects, armed with knives, attacked a woman identified as Ijeoma Neonye. During the assault, she was reportedly injured before the attackers escaped with several valuables.
The items stolen included an Infinix Smart 7 Plus smartphone valued at about ₦120,000, cash amounting to ₦280,000, and a Rolex chain wristwatch estimated at ₦35,000.
Authorities confirmed that Bala Mohammed has since been arrested in connection with the attack, while another suspected accomplice known as Amir is currently on the run.
Police say efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest the fleeing suspect.
Police investigations also revealed that the suspect may have been involved in another robbery that occurred earlier in February.
According to authorities, on February 22, 2026, the suspect and his accomplice Amir allegedly attacked a resident named Usama Abdullahi.
During the assault, the victim sustained injuries after being stabbed in the left shoulder before his Tecno POP 5 smartphone was stolen.
Detectives believe these repeated incidents show a pattern of organized street violence connected to the Sara-Suka gang culture that has troubled several communities.
Officials say the World Boy arrest may help police dismantle part of the network responsible for these attacks.
Police authorities also revealed that the suspect was not new to law enforcement records.
Prior to the recent World Boy arrest, he had reportedly been arrested and prosecuted for violent activities in 2024.
According to police records, the suspect was convicted at the time and sentenced without the option of paying a fine.
However, authorities say he later resurfaced in the community after serving his sentence and allegedly returned to criminal activities.
Residents of several neighbourhoods, including Magaji Quarters, Anguwan Sarakuna, and Rafin Makaranta, had reportedly associated the suspect with repeated clashes and gang-related violence.
During the arrest operation, police officers recovered several items believed to have been used in carrying out the crimes.
These included two sharp knives, a pair of scissors and a Tecno POP 5 mobile phone identified as belonging to one of the victims.
The police said these items have been documented as exhibits and will be used as evidence during prosecution.
Authorities believe the recovery of the weapons and stolen property further strengthens the case linked to the World Boy arrest.
In a separate development on the same day, the Bauchi police command also announced the arrest of another robbery suspect following a complaint from a resident.
A 24-year-old woman identified as Magdalene Pius reported to the ‘E’ Division police station in Yelwa that she had been robbed at knife-point earlier on March 7.
According to her statement, a suspect identified as Usama Salihu allegedly threatened her with a knife at about 6:30 a.m. and stole two mobile phones — an Infinix Smart 9 smartphone valued at approximately ₦125,000 and an Itel keypad phone worth about ₦15,000.
Police detectives later tracked down and arrested the suspect. The stolen Infinix Smart 9 phone was successfully recovered and registered as evidence.
Authorities confirmed that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a more detailed investigation.
Reacting to the recent arrests, the Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, reassured residents that the command remains committed to maintaining security and combating criminal activities across the state.
He noted that the police will continue to strengthen patrol operations, intelligence gathering and rapid response systems to prevent violent crimes.
The police commissioner also urged residents to cooperate with law-enforcement agencies by reporting suspicious movements or criminal activities in their communities.
Authorities believe that public cooperation, alongside proactive policing strategies, will help reduce gang-related violence and robberies across Bauchi State.
