A 19-year-old man, Aliyu Yaro, has been arrested in Adamawa State for allegedly strangling his three-day-old child.
Yaro, who is from Kwacham in Mubi North Local Government Area, reportedly blamed his actions on financial difficulties. It is alleged that he stole the baby boy from his lover, Safiya, murdered him, and buried the body in a shallow grave.
The incident occurred on 7th November 2024.
Yaro stated that Safiya had been pressuring him to provide for her and the newborn. Feeling overwhelmed, he reportedly decided to end the child’s life to avoid his parental responsibilities.
Safiya recounted, “It’s true; he hadn’t been supporting me or the baby since the birth three days earlier. I had complained and threatened to report him. On the night of the incident, around 8:30 pm, he came to my house. I left him with the baby to buy water, but when I returned, he was gone with the child. I immediately reported it to the police, who arrested him the following day. Sadly, he had already killed the baby.”
Adamawa State Police Command spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed the arrest. He stated, “On 8th November 2024, we apprehended 19-year-old Aliyu Yaro for the alleged murder of his three-day-old baby boy. Yaro, who hails from Kwacham ward in Mubi North Local Government Area, was accused by his girlfriend, Safiya, of murdering the child three days after the birth.
“During interrogation, he confessed to the crime and led the police to the burial site, where the remains were exhumed. He admitted to taking the baby from Safiya’s house after sending her on an errand and later burying the body in the Girpata area of Mubi.”
Both Yaro and Safiya are currently in police custody.
