Police detain couple over death of teenage son in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command has detained a couple in connection with the death of their teenage son in Kurmin-Mashi area of Kaduna State.
The deceased, identified simply as Sadiq and believed to be between 12 and 14 years old, reportedly died on Tuesday following an alleged beating by his mother, Hauwa’u Adamu, popularly known as Maman Sadiq and her husband, Sharhabil.

The incident which occurred on Dahiru Road in Kurmin-Mashi was made public by an online platform K-Mashi Voice.

According to neighbours featured in the report, trouble began on Monday after Sadiq was sent by his mother to withdraw N5,000 from a Point of Sale (PoS) operator. However, suspicions were raised when it was allegedly discovered that two separate withdrawals had been made, while the boy returned home with only N5,000.

It was gathered that his stepfather Sharhabil accompanied him back to the PoS outlet, where the operator reportedly confirmed that two withdrawals had been carried out.

Following the discovery, the couple allegedly accused the teenager of dishonesty and subjected him to severe corporal punishment.

A female neighbour reportedly heard the boy crying around 10 p.m. on Monday and intervened, pleading with the couple to stop the punishment. The appeals were allegedly ignored.

Sources further disclosed that the neighbour later contacted a local Islamic cleric, who visited the family and advised the couple against the severity of their actions. However, the warning was reportedly not heeded.

Residents said the boy was left in that condition overnight, while his death was confirmed the following morning.

Police from the Kurmin-Mashi Division subsequently responded to the incident and evacuated the body to Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital, also known as Dutse General Hospital, for an autopsy and other examinations to determine the cause of death.

The deceased’s mother and her husband have since been taken into custody as police continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the matter.