Mother of Kogi teenager who buried stepbrother alive arrested

The mother of teenager who buried his 11-year-old stepbrother alive as punishment for alleged theft of N10.000.00 in a bush at Silo community in Zango Daji, Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State has been arrested.

Spokesperson for Kogi police command, SP Williams Ovye-Aya announced the arrest of the woman who is also the stepmother of the victim in a statement in Lokoja, the state capital on Thursday.

Ovye-Aya said the woman was arrested on Thursday as soon as she returned from the church.

Passers-by had rescued the 11-year-old boy after he had been buried by his 17-year-old stepbrother as a punishment for the theft on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old boy had allegedly buried his stepbrother for the theft of N10,000 belonging to the stepmother who instructed her son to punish the suspect before heading to church.

In meting punishment to the 11-year-old, the 17-year-old took his stepbrother into the bush where he buried him alive, throwing the entire Kogi into bewilderment.

“Our officers and men were able to arrest the stepmother on Thursday after a tip-off. She is now in our custody.

“She has made a statement to the police on the sad incident.

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“We shall transfer the mother and son to the Criminal Investigation Department for further interrogation of reasons behind such cruelty among family members.

“It is unfortunate that the father or breadwinner of the family was said to have travelled. We are waiting for him to return to give us his own statement

“Once investigation is concluded, we shall arraign mother and son,’’ Ovye-Aya said.

Meanwhile, the Kogi government has vowed to prosecute the 17-year-old boy and the mother.

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 described the incident as “very wicked’’ and “saddening’’ and assured 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.

“Our findings indicate that the boy is regularly maltreated by his stepmother and stepbrother.

“As a government we will ensure that justice is served on all the perpetrators of evil acts in Kogi,’’ she said.

Buba warned guardians fond of inhuman treatment of their wards to desist or face the full wrath of the law.

Mother of Kogi teenager who buried stepbrother alive arrested

(NAN)