Mother and stepfather detained over teenage son’s d3ath in Kaduna

A woman and her husband have been arrested in Kaduna State over the d3ath of her teenage son from a previous marriage. 

The incident occurred in Kurmin-Mashi area of the state on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

According to reports, the boy’s mother, Hauwa’u Adamu, popularly known as Maman Sadiq (Aunty Laraba), alongside her husband Sharhabil, were being accused of involvement in the teenager’s d3ath, following what is suspected to be a severe corporal punishment inflicted on him on Monday night. 

The incident began after the mother sent Sadiq to withdraw N5,000 cash from a PoS shop. 

However, it was alleged that Sadiq made two withdrawals but returned with only N5,000 cash to his mother, a development that prompted his stepfather, Sharhabil, to follow him to the PoS operator, who reportedly confirmed that two withdrawals were actually made by late Sadiq.

Upon their return home, the mother and her husband—who was not the boy’s biological father of the boy—allegedly subjected him to beatings for the act of dishonesty.

A female neighbour was said to have heard the boy crying around 10pm on Monday night, which led her to intervene and pleaded with the couple to stop the punishment to no avail.

The source further stated that she contacted a local Islamic cleric, who came to advise the duo and cautioned them against the severity of their actions but they didn’t listen.to her, everyone eventually left, leaving the boy in that condition. 

Sadiq’s d3ath was confirmed on Tuesday morning.

According to Leadership newspaper, the Kurmin-Mashi Police Division waded in and took the boy’s body to Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital (Dutse General Hospital) for further examination to determine the cause of d3ath while the mother, Hauwa’u Adamu, and her husband Sharhabil have also been detained as investigations into the incident continue.