Tragedy struck the quiet rural community of Takuti, situated in the Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, following the arrest of a woman, Mariya Abdullahi, for allegedly poisoning her co-wife’s two young children.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 6:00 AM on Friday, November 6, 2026, resulted in the death of a nine-year-old child, while a four-year-old sibling remains hospitalized.
According to reports from the Niger State Police Command, operatives attached to the Lapai Divisional Police Headquarters received a distressed report shortly after the act was committed in Takuti.
Confirming the arrest in a statement released on Saturday, November 7, 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Niger State Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed that officers moved rapidly to the scene.
”On 6th November 2026 at about 6:00 AM, a report was received at Lapai Division that one Mariya Abdullahi of Takuti, via Lapai, administered some substance suspected to be poison to the children of her co-wife,” SP Abiodun stated.
Upon arriving at the family residence, police officers discovered both children, aged nine and four, unconscious after drinking the tainted liquid given to them by the suspect.
The two unconscious children were immediately rushed to a nearby community clinic for urgent emergency care. However, the nine-year-old child was pronounced dead on arrival.
The surviving four-year-old victim was critically stabilized before being transferred to a General Hospital for intensive medical attention. Police confirmed that the surviving child is currently responding positively to treatment.
During preliminary interrogation at the Lapai Divisional Headquarters, Mariya Abdullahi confessed to administering the substance, citing intense pressure and frustration over her inability to conceive a child for her husband.
She further claimed to police interrogators that she was egged on and influenced by a friend to carry out the deadly act due to her childlessness.
SP Wasiu Abiodun stated that the suspect remains in custody and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna, the Niger State capital, for further interrogation and diligent prosecution as soon as preliminary investigations are concluded.
