A woman, Mariya Abdullahi, has been arrested for allegedly poisoning her co-wife’s two children in Takuti community, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, resulting in the death of one of them.
The victims, aged four and nine, reportedly fell unconscious after consuming a substance suspected to be poisonous, which was allegedly given to them by Abdullahi.
The incident reportedly happened on Friday, November 6, with one of the children dying shortly after being taken to a nearby medical facility. The second victim was subsequently moved to a general hospital, where she was receiving treatment.
Preliminary reports indicated that the suspect allegedly carried out the act because she had been unable to give her husband a child. She was also said to have been encouraged by a friend to poison the children.
Abdullahi was arrested by police operatives following the incident and taken into custody for questioning.
The Niger State Police Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the development on Saturday, disclosing that the incident was reported to the Lapai Police Division at about 6am on the day it occurred.
According to him, officers who responded to the report found the two children unconscious after allegedly ingesting the substance. One of them died despite efforts to obtain medical attention, while the other was referred to a general hospital.
Abiodun said the suspect admitted during interrogation that a friend influenced her decision, adding that she would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for further investigation and prosecution.
Kehinde Ayanboade
Kehinde Ayanboade is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Naija Metro News, with over eight years of experience covering Nigerian politics, crime, legislative proceedings and metropolitan affairs.
