A woman in Bauchi has taken the life of her co-wife's newborn son, who was just four days old, using insecticide.

The Bauchi State Police Command has apprehended a 24-year-old woman named Furera Abubakar for the killing of a four-day-old infant belonging to her co-wife in Bantu village, located in the Ningi Local Government area of the state.

As per a statement issued by SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, the spokesperson for the command, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, the suspect used a liquid insecticide known as Gramalin on the newborn's still-healing umbilical cord, resulting in the tragic demise of the baby. This incident reportedly transpired on August 19, 2023, just a few days before the planned naming ceremony for the child.

The statement reads,

“The incident was reported to the Ningi divisional police headquarters on the 19th of August, 2023 which revealed that the four-day-old baby was born on the 15th of August, 2023 and was murdered by the suspect Furera Abubakar on the 19th of August, 2023 before the naming ceremony,” the statement read.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a co-wife to The nursing mother (victim’s mother). The suspect entered the co-wife’s room with insecticide liquid (Gramalin) and applied it to the unhealed baby’s umbilical cord.

“The liquid which was suspected to be corrosively affected, and led to the deterioration of the baby’s health eventually led to his death.

“The investigation is discreetly ongoing, after which the suspect will be profiled and charged in court accordingly.”