Bauchi State, Nigeria – An 18-year-old pregnant housewife, Khadija Adamu, has expressed regret over her alleged role in the death of her five-year-old step-daughter in Bauchi State. The police arrested her for allegedly beating the child to death after the child defecated on her body.
Khadija, who was paraded before journalists at the Police Headquarters in Bauchi, denied any intention to kill the child, describing the incident as a mistake while attempting to correct the child’s behavior.
She stated, “How can I kill a child who was like my child? Even though she was my co-wife’s baby, she was also my daughter because she was my husband’s child. What happened was just a mistake and not a deliberate intention to kill.”
Khadija emphasized her own maternal status and the fact that she is currently four months pregnant with her second child, expressing her disbelief at being accused of intentionally killing another child. She explained that she used a USB cord to discipline the child, believing it was an appropriate way to correct her behavior. The child did not die on the day of the beating but succumbed to injuries the following day, leading to Khadija’s profound sadness and remorse.
Khadija pleaded for leniency from the police and expressed the belief that everyone had forgiven her for her actions. She also appealed for understanding due to her pregnancy.
The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Auwal Muhammad, provided details of the incident, which occurred on September 28, 2023, at approximately 9.25 pm. He stated that Khadija inflicted serious injuries on the five-year-old stepdaughter, Hafsat Garba, due to the child’s alleged soiling of her clothing.
Medical attention was sought for the victim at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, where she was subsequently certified dead by a medical doctor. Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect beat the victim after the child had soiled herself, resulting in the child’s injuries and subsequent death.
Commissioner Muhammad condemned the incident, describing it as an act of wickedness. He called on women to exercise care and caution when disciplining children, particularly when they are not the biological parents, and emphasized the need to reduce envy and rivalry among wives, as such conflicts can have tragic consequences.
The tragic incident highlights the importance of responsible and non-violent discipline of children, underscoring the need for better awareness and education on child-rearing and parenting.