A woman identified as Khadija is facing accusations of killing her 11-year-old daughter, Fadila, in the Tukur area of Zaria, Kaduna State, after allegedly beating her with a pestle over missing ₦100.
According to reports, the tragic incident occurred on Saturday just before the Maghrib prayer. Khadija allegedly assaulted her daughter after accusing her of stealing ₦100 the child had received during Sallah celebrations.
The incident has sparked outrage among local residents, with some refusing to attend the girl's funeral, citing what they described as a grave injustice.
History of Alleged Abuse
Neighbors claim this was not an isolated incident. One woman from the area stated, "This is not the first time she has beaten the girl. Whenever there's a problem with her hawking, she beats her like she's not even her child."
Another neighbor added, "We refused to pray over her because justice was denied. Everyone acted like nothing seriously happened."
The father of the deceased, Malam Mustapha Musa, claimed he was not at home when the incident occurred. "I came back to meet the situation. I don't know how it happened," he told reporters.
Mother Denies Intent
Khadija has denied intentionally killing her daughter. "Yes, I beat her, but I didn't mean to kill her. It was only the children at home at the time," she said in her statement.
Following the incident, Fadila's father took her body to their hometown in Kano State for burial and funeral rites. "I've left everything to God," he remarked.
A local vigilante official reported that they initially invited Khadija and her husband for questioning but stepped aside after police arrived to take over the case.
As of the time of reporting, the Kaduna State Police Command's spokesperson, DSP Mansur Hassan, is yet to make any official statement regarding the case.
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of child abuse in Nigerian households and raises questions about child protection measures in communities.
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