Police logo
By Our Reporter
The Kogi State command has arrested the stepmother of the 11-year-old boy buried alive on Wednesday by the woman’s 17-year-old son.
Recall that the young 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 mother to punish the erring boy.
The elder brother, who was caught by neighbours, had said he buried the boy alive after their mother directed him to punish the boy for stealing N10,000.
The spokesman for the command, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, said in Lokoja that the woman was arrested on Thursday after returning from the church.
The police noted that its operatives had immediately arrested the 17-year-old boy and his mother.
The spokesperson said, “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.
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 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.
