A disturbing incident has rocked Mariga Town in Niger State, where a 30-year-old man identified as Basiru Umaru is accused of killing a six-year-old boy, Aliyu Muhammed.
The heartbreaking event reportedly took place on the night of June 28 around 9:00 p.m. Community members say the suspect, believed to be mentally unstable, allegedly lured the young boy to a nearby riverside under false pretenses.
Shocking details emerged that the suspect allegedly bound the child’s hands and feet before hurling him into the river, where he drowned.
The boy’s parents had earlier raised an alarm about his disappearance. In a grim turn of events, the suspect later led them and community members to the riverbank, where the child’s body was recovered.
Police officers arrived at the scene shortly after to secure the area and transport the deceased to a local hospital, where an autopsy is expected to be conducted.
In the wake of the tragedy, local residents helped to ensure that the suspect was restrained to prevent further harm. Authorities have confirmed that psychiatric experts will evaluate Umaru to determine his mental state at the time of the crime.
The incident has left the community in deep mourning, as calls grow louder for a thorough investigation and preventive measures to address mental health-related violence.