Kogi police arrest mother whose son buried stepbrother alive

• The woman was arrested on Thursday after returning from the church
• The 11-year-old boy allegedly stole money belonging to his stepmother, who instructed her son to punish the suspect before heading to church

Kogi State Police Command has arrested the stepmother of the 11-year-old boy buried alive on Wednesday by the woman’s 17-year-old son.

The spokesman for the command, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, said in Lokoja that the woman was arrested on Thursday after returning from the church.

Passers-by rescued the 11-year-old on Wednesday after his stepbrother had buried him in a bush at Silo community in Zango Daji, Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi.

The 11-year-old boy allegedly stole money belonging to his 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.

“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 statement

“Once the 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.