The Kogi State Police Command has announced the arrest of the stepmother of an 11-year-old boy who was buried alive on Wednesday, October 12, by her 17-year-old son.

The spokesperson for the command, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, said in Lokoja on Thursday that the woman was arrested after a tip-off. He said she is currently in custody and has made a statement to the police on the incident.

“Our officers and men were able to arrest the stepmother on Thursday after a tip-off. She is now in our custody.

“She has made a statement to the police on the sad incident. We shall transfer the mother and son to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further interrogation of reasons behind such cruelty among family members,” the spokesperson said.

The 11-year-old boy, whose name has not been released, was allegedly buried alive by his stepbrother in a bush at Silo community in Zango Daji, Adavi Local Government Area of the state.

The boy was accused of stealing N10,000 from his stepmother.

Ovye-Aya said the stepmother instructed her son to punish the boy before going to church. The 17-year-old then took his stepbrother into the bush and buried him alive.

Passers-by rescued the boy after hearing him crying for help. They rushed him to the hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.

While the police spokesperson said the stepmother and her son will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further interrogation; the state government via its Commissioner for Women Affairs and social Development, Fatima Buba, promised to see the case to a logical conclusion.

“This is very wicked and saddening”, Buba told Journalists in the state on Thursday.