Sughshater Ushahemba, a resident of Mbadyur ward in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, has been arrested by the Benue State Police Command on charges of poisoning her 11-month-old child.
Community members reported that on an early Saturday morning, the woman allegedly administered something resembling a chemical to the infant.
An alternative account suggests that the mother initially claimed the child had succumbed to a high temperature on that Saturday morning. Allegedly, she attempted to bury the child but was apprehended before doing so.
However, during an interview with journalists on Monday, Paul Pevikyaa, the Information Officer for Logo LGA, revealed that the woman had previously informed people that the infant fell ill at 12:31 am and passed away two hours later.
He said, “When the woman was interviewed, she (the woman) said when they were asleep, around 12.31 am, the baby started having a high fever and that the body was so hot that she gave up within two hours.
“She said that the mistake she made was at daybreak, she failed to inform her neighbors of what happened in the night because there is a strong belief that when you have neighbors and when you are having difficulties at night, at least you can call your neighbors to help you and they can be your witness. But she never did that.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Command, Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, stressing the suspect was currently in custody.