The Yobe State Police Command have arrested a 22-year-old woman, Khadija Yakubu, for allegedly giving her four stepchildren poisoned tea which resulted in the death of three of them.
The incident happened September 17 at Makara-Huta area of Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe State.
It was gathered that after giving the children the tea, they became sick and were rushed to hospital and while receiving treatment, three of the children died. The fourth remains in critical condition in the hospital.
The incident was confirmed in a press release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Yobe State Command, ASP Dungus Abdulkarim.
According to the statement, findings indicated that the children were rushed to hospital after taking the tea prepared by their stepmother in the early hours of Friday at about 0900hrs on September 17, 2021, but three of the victims died while receiving treatment and one of them remained unconscious.
Dungus said, “so far an investigation has been launched by the police to unfold the elements of the case for subsequent prosecution.”
The victims’ names were given as Zainab Alhaji Haruna, aged 7, Ahmed Alhaji Haruna, aged 9, Umar Alhaji Haruna, aged 12 and Maryam Alhaji Haruna, aged 11.
“The suspect has been apprehended and is in custody. Investigation has begun to ascertain the remote and immediate cause of the incident. She will be charged after investigation,” Dungus stated.