The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old woman accused of burying her newborn baby girl alive.
Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Wednesday. He said the incident happened on June 25, 2025, when the suspect, identified as Maryam Atiku from the Nasarawa area of Kamba in Dandi Local Government Area, gave birth to a baby girl.
According to the police, Atiku allegedly tied the baby’s neck with wrappers, covered her mouth, and took her to a bush near Malam Yaro village, where she dug a shallow grave and buried the child alive.
The following day, June 26, at about 12:30 p.m., a farmer named Kabiru Muhammad discovered freshly disturbed soil on his farmland. Suspecting foul play, he alerted nearby residents. Together, they uncovered the baby, who was miraculously still breathing. She was rushed to the General Hospital in Kamba, where medical staff treated her, and she was later confirmed to be in stable condition.
Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department in Birnin Kebbi opened an investigation and subsequently arrested Atiku, who reportedly admitted to committing the act during questioning.
Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, Bello Sani, strongly condemned the incident, stressing that the command maintains zero tolerance for child abuse, gender-based violence, and similar crimes.
He further appealed to parents, guardians, and community leaders to protect children in their care and avoid using economic hardship or other challenges as justification for harmful actions.
