It has been a season wicked step-family members wrecking havoc on another with the recent rescue of a young boy by concerned residents of Apamisede area of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital from being buried alive.
In a video that has gone viral, the young boy was seen being tortured and buried alive by his elder brother who claimed he was instructed by the boy’s step-mother to punish the erring boy.
The elder brother, who was caught by neighbours, said he buried the boy alive after their mother directed him to punish the boy for stealing N1000.
However, the Police in Kogi State have arrested the stepmother and her 17-year-old son. Police spokesman in Kogi, SP Williams Ovye-Aya said in Lokoja that the woman was arrested on Thursday soon as she returned from the church.
“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 bread winner 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.
In the viral video, the elder brother was heard sayin pidgin that, “He thief money. The last time he went to thief money, We dey ask am where he put the money, and I no know how much he thief oo but he said nah N1000. The last time he stole, nobody beat ham, and nobody touched Ham.
“Nobody send, nah my mother talk say make I punish am,” the elder boy added. (LawandSocietyMagazine)
