The Kogi State Police Command says it has arrested a stepmother and her 17-year old son who allegedly buried alive an 11-year old boy on Wednesday.
According to the spokesman for the command, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, the woman was arrested in Lokoja yesterday after returning from church.
Recall that the 11-year old boy was rescued by some concerned citizens in Apamisede area of Lokoja, Kogi State’s capital.
The young boy was seen being tortured and buried alive by his elder brother who claimed he was instructed by the boy’s stepmother to punish him.
The elder brother, who was caught by neighbours, had said he buried the boy alive after their mother directed him to punish himfor stealing N10,000.
The spokesperson says it’s officers and men were able to arrest the stepmother on Thursday after a tip-off. She is now in custody. And she has made a statement to the police on the sad incident.
The case will be transferred whereby the mother and son will be taken to the Criminal Investigation Department for further interrogation of reasons behind such cruelty among family members.
Ovye-Aya says it is unfortunate that the father or breadwinner of the family was said to have travelled. Police is awaiting him to return to give his statement. Once the investigation is concluded, both mother and son shall be arraigned.
Meanwhile, the Kogi government has vowed to prosecute the 17-year-old boy and the mother.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Fatima Buba, made the vow on Thursday in Lokoja when she spoke with newsmen over the incident.
Buba describes the incident as “very wicked’’ and “saddening’’ and assures that the ministry was in constant liaison with the police for the immediate prosecution of the mother and son.
While the ministry is liaising with the police for their prosecution, necessary arrangements had been made to put the 11-year-old boy in an orphanage home. Findings indicate that the boy is regularly maltreated by his stepmother and stepbrother.
Buba says as a government, it will ensure that justice is served on all the perpetrators of evil acts in Kogi. And warns guardians fond of inhuman treatment of their wards to desist or face the full wrath of the law.
