A 40-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly strangling his 17-month-old stepson in Jigawa State, northern Nigeria.
The 40-year-old man, identified as Usman Isma’il, was arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in a farm at Miga Local Government Area of the state.
NSCDC spokesman in the state, SC Adamu Shehu, confirmed the incident on Thursday.
Shehu disclosed that the suspect, a resident of Tsakuwama Village, was arrested by the NSCDC operatives on Sept. 3, at about 4 p.m..
He explained that the suspect allegedly took the deceased to a farm on Aug. 14 and strangled him to death.
“The suspect, according to reports related the child’s death to cold related infections.
His wife suspects foul play. She disclosed that her husband had attempted to strangle the late child on two separate occasions while she was present. Her husband, she said had an intense dislike for the child.
“After detailed interrogation by the Intelligence and Investigation team of the command, the suspect confessed to committing the crime, saying that the baby distracted his wife from giving him the love and attention he deserved,” he explained.
The spokesman added that preliminary medical examinations on the suspect’s mental condition revealed no trace of mental disorder.
The suspect will be taken to a Psychiatric Hospital to properly ascertain his mental health status. Th police say he will be charged to court after investigations have been completed.