Police in Kogi arrested the stepmother of an 11-year-old boy who was buried alive by her older teen son. The woman was taken into custody on October 12th as soon as she returned from church. Passers-by rescued the boy on October 11th after his stepbrother buried him in a bush in Silo community, Zango Daji, Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi.
The 11-year-old had allegedly stolen N1,000 from his stepmother, who instructed her son to punish him before going to church. In a cruel act, the 17-year-old took his stepbrother into the bush and buried him alive. The police promptly arrested the 17-year-old and later detained his mother.
Police spokesman SP Williams Ovye-Aya stated, “Our officers arrested the stepmother on Thursday after receiving a tip-off. She’s now in custody and has given a statement to the police. Both the mother and son will be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department for further interrogation regarding this tragic incident.”
The Kogi government has also pledged to prosecute the 17-year-old and the mother. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Fatima Buba, called the incident “very wicked” and “saddening” and assured that the ministry was working closely with the police for their immediate prosecution. They have arranged to place the 11-year-old boy in an orphanage home, as it was revealed that he was regularly mistreated by his stepmother and stepbrother. Buba emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring justice for all those involved in such heinous acts in Kogi.