The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old woman, Maryam Atiku, for the alleged attempted murder of her newborn daughter, whom she buried alive.
According to a statement from the command’s Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Abubakar, the incident occurred on 25 June 2025 in the Nasarawa area of Kamba, Dandi Local Government.
Shortly after giving birth, the suspect “allegedly tied the baby’s neck with three pieces of wrapper, covered her mouth, and transported her to a bush near Malam Yaro village.” There, she reportedly dug a shallow grave and buried the infant alive.
The following day, at around 12:30 p.m., a farmer named Kabiru Muhammad discovered the child. “Working on his farm near Malam Yaro village, he noticed a suspicious patch of freshly disturbed soil,” the statement explained.
After raising the alarm, local residents exhumed the baby, who was found still alive. She was rushed to General Hospital in Kamba, where medical personnel stabilised her condition.
Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Birnin Kebbi launched an investigation and apprehended the suspect. “During preliminary interrogation, Maryam Atiku confessed to the crime,” the police confirmed.
The Commissioner of Police, Bello Sani, reiterated the command’s “zero-tolerance policy towards child abuse, exploitation, and all forms of gender-based violence.”
He urged “parents, guardians, and community leaders to uphold their moral and religious obligations by protecting children under their care,” adding that poverty should never justify such inhumane actions.
The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.
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