The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, CP Bassey Ewah, has revealed that the command has received 64 cases of rape and defilement since his assumption of office in February 2026, to date.

Ewah made the disclosure while parading 18 suspects arrested for rape, homicide, illegal arms possession and cultism, at the Command’s headquarters in Jos the State Capital on Friday.

He declared that, “rape and defilement are not family matters” and warning against attempts to “settle” such cases outside the law.

He added: “This is part of our commitment to ensuring that we remain accountable to members of the public, and to send a clear message to criminal elements, that Plateau State will not be a hiding place for them.”

According to him, “Sexual offences featured prominently in the arrests. On 24/03/2026, Pankshin Divisional Police Headquarters received a report that, one Longnan Joshua, male, 18 years old was caught having carnal knowledge of a one year old girl.”

“The victim’s mother, a student, usually leaves the victim in the care of her elder brother. She returned home to find him bathing the victim and became suspicious.”

“The brother told police that whenever he was left at home with his sister, the said Longnan Joshua (the suspect), would send him to buy biscuits or peanuts for him. Upon his return, he would find the suspect naked, on top of the victim, having sexual intercourse with her through the anus.”

“Medical examination carried out on the victim revealed that the victim’s anus appears to be hyperaemic, with bleeding gushing out of the anus. A small amount of semen was also discovered from the anus, suggesting sexual assault on her,” the CP stated. Joshua was arrested and will be charged to court.

Speaking further, Yeah said, “On 17/04/2026, A Division Police Station, Jos, arrested one Douglas Madaki, male, 19 years old of Ikukumu village, Tudun Wada, Jos North LGA for allegedly having carnal knowledge of a seven year old girl on several occasions and warning her not to tell anyone. A complainant overheard the girl saying he had done this to her over five times and on each occasion, he threatened her not to tell anyone.”

“Madaki “confessed to the crime and is currently in our custody”, he explained.

The CP also disclosed that, Police at Nassarawa Gwong Division on 09/03/2026 arrested “one Asen Arin, male, 40 years old of Tina Junction for forcefully having sexual intercourse with his niece, whenever her grandmother was not at home.”

CP Ewah disclosed that “the suspect has been violating the victim since she was about nine years old.

Adding that, “one Usman Agwom and Ishaya Aju have also been forcefully having carnal knowledge of her, but are now at large, and the police are making efforts to apprehend them.

The CP also revealed that, “On 23/04/2026, Anglo-Jos Police Station arrested one Oyenado Yetunde Esther, female of Sparkling Junction for assaulting a 17-year-old girl in her care.

“Esther confessed to the crime and further revealed that her actions were prompted by the fact that she saw the victim and her boyfriend having sex in the shop.

“The boyfriend, one Christopher Jah Gyang, male, 34 years, was also arrested. Police found the victim had previously taken in for the second suspect, but the pregnancy was aborted”, Ewah explained.

Regarding a mob action on 01/04/2026, CP Ewah said, “one Ebubechukwu Kelvin Ihionu, male, 40 years of Utan, Jos North LGA was lynched very close to University of Jos permanent site by a mob. The deceased’s phone was tracked to one Usman Idris, who bought it from Abba Musa, who in turn bought it from Abubakar Sadiq Mustapha.”

“Investigation showed Mustapha was the one who picked up the phone from the scene of the attack.

Ewah further stated that, “On 26/04/2026, Barkin Ladi Division arrested one Iliya Amagon, male of Tenti Village, Barkin Ladi LGA with three locally fabricated AK47 rifles and three empty magazines.

“Amagon said he got them from “one Mr Dachomo (at large) through one Eliya Dalyop Barry, male of Dahwol village, Jos South LGA.

“He confessed to buying over seven firearms at Eight Hundred Thousand Naira only each and reselling them for commission”, the CP explained.

CP Ewah described the rise in sexual offences as, “a disturbing epidemic of rape and defilement in Plateau State.

He said, “This heinous crime is no longer limited to attacks on women and girls. We are now recording cases where little boys and girls are being raped, often by persons entrusted with their care and protection as guardians. This is an abomination and a betrayal of trust that will not be tolerated.”

He condemned pleas from “some traditional and religious leaders to have such matters settled at home in order to protect the image of families or communities involved.

“Let me state this unequivocally, rape and defilement are not family matters. They are felonies against the state; no individual, group, or institution has the authority to shield offenders from justice,” CP Ewah declared.

“I have issued firm directives to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, (SCID), that all reported cases of rape and defilement must be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the State. There will be no ‘settlement’ at any Police Division or Formation within the State”, he assured.

“Furthermore, any person – regardless of status, title, or office – who approaches the Police to plead on behalf of a rape or defilement suspect will be arrested and charged as an accessory after the fact. You cannot obstruct justice and claim to be a custodian of peace,” he warned.

He urged parents to, “be vigilant, protect your children, and report any suspicion or incident immediately to the nearest police station or through the emergency lines made available on our Social Media platforms. ‘See Something, Say Something”, he admonished.