Bauchi woman kills four-day old stepson with insecticide

Police operatives in Bauchi State have arrested a 24-year-old housewife for allegedly killing her stepson.

In a statement made available to journalists yesterday, the state police command, through its Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, revealed that the suspect murdered the four-day-old baby with an insecticide.

The incident  happened in Bantu, a community in the Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

According to Wakil, the deceased was born on August 15, 2023, but was killed by the suspect on August 19, 2023, before his naming ceremony.

The Superintendent of Police said the suspect, Furera Abubakar, entered her co-wife’s room with an insecticide and gave the newborn baby, which led to his eventual death.

The PPRO said, “Operatives attached to Bauchi State Police Command have arrested Furera Abubakar, female (24) of Bantu village, Ningi Local Government area of Bauchi State, for the offence of culpable homicide.

“The incident was reported to the Ningi divisional police headquarters on the 19th of August, 2023, which revealed that the four-day-old baby was born on the 15th of August, 2023 and was murdered by the suspect, Furera Abubakar, on the 19th of August, 2023 before the naming ceremony.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a co-wife to the nursing mother (victim’s mother).

“The suspect entered the co-wife’s room with insecticide liquid (Gramalin) and applied it to the unhealed baby’s umbilical cord.

“The liquid, which was suspected to be corrosively affected, and led to the deterioration of the baby’s health, eventually led to his death.”

Wakil said that the investigation into the incident is discreetly ongoing, after which the suspect would be profiled and charged in court accordingly for prosecution.