Woman sets adopted son ablaze

By ABDALLAH el-Kurebe, Sokoto

Sokoto State Police Command has arrested a 35-year old woman (name withheld) for allegedly setting her adopted son, Mohammed Mubarak Bala, aged ten, ablaze.

Young Bala was set on fire for unconfirmed reasons by his foster mother in May.

Briefing newsmen at the Police Officers’ Mess in Sokoto, Deputy Police Commissioner, Alhaji Sa’idu Madawaki, said the suspect adopted the child from an orphanage home in Sokoto.

According to him, “On July 20, 2010, the command received information from concerned citizens that the suspect had deliberately tied her adopted son (now deceased) with a rope in her house and set him on fire. “As a result, the victim sustained burnt injuries on his body and was rushed to the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, UDUTH, and later on July 23 died at Sokoto Clinic while receiving treatment.”

Madawaki said the case was under investigation and the suspect would be taken to court for prosecution after it is concluded.

In a related development, a suspect who allegedly specializes in cheating women desperate to have job opportunities with international organizations was paraded before newsmen.

Resident in Diplomat Area of Sokoto State, Chukwu Ogbonna was said to have been using email addresses of his victims to notify them of job vacancies in the United Nations Organization for Young Peace Builders, which is alleged to have its regional headquarters along Sama Road, Sokoto.

The police chief said the suspect met his waterloo when he invited one Mrs. Mercy Samuel from Ibadan for a supposed interview and, on arrival, lodged her at B and C Hotel, at Kwannawa area of Sokoto.

He explained that when Samuel went to take her bath, the suspect made away with her laptop, handset and some other valuables but left behind his handset.

Madawaki added that the suspect, who identified himself as Dr. Cosmos Osondu and claimed to work with the said organization, was later tracked down by police detectives.