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The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the deaths of two children in Alkaleri and Ganjuwa Local Government Areas of the state, including a six-year-old boy who allegedly died after drinking a beverage given to him by his stepmother.
The police said the first incident occurred in Kwaimawa community, Alkaleri LGA, where Mubarak Ibrahim reportedly developed severe symptoms shortly after taking a drink allegedly given to him by his stepmother, identified as Fatima Ibrahim. Blueprint reports
The second incident involved a five-year-old girl, identified as Jabiba Abubakar, whose body was reportedly discovered in a small pit behind a village in Ganjuwa LGA after she had been declared missing.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafi’u Habib, disclosed the incidents to journalists in Bauchi on Monday, describing the deaths as tragic and distressing.
He said the command had arrested suspects in both cases and transferred the investigations to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further action.
Six-year-old boy dies after eight days in hospital
According to the police spokesman, Mubarak’s ordeal began after he allegedly consumed a drink given to him by his stepmother in Kwaimawa community.
Habib said the child, who was reportedly in good spirits before the incident, suddenly began vomiting uncontrollably after taking the drink.
The development reportedly threw his family into panic, prompting them to rush him to the Primary Health Care Centre in Kwaimawa for medical attention.
He was subsequently transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gombe, where doctors reportedly battled to save his life for eight days.
However, the boy was confirmed dead by medical personnel on October 24, 2026.
Following a report lodged by the village head of Kwaimawa, the police said detectives commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
The operation subsequently led to the arrest of Fatima Ibrahim, who is being held in police custody as investigators work to establish what happened.
The police have yet to disclose the outcome of any forensic examination or confirm publicly whether toxicological tests have established the presence of a poisonous substance in the drink.
The allegation against the suspect remains subject to investigation.
Missing girl found dead in Ganjuwa
In the second incident, the police said five-year-old Jabiba Abubakar had been staying with her aunt in Zaila community and her grandfather in Badaromo village before she was reported missing.
Habib said the search for the child ended in tragedy when her body was discovered in a small pit behind the village.
“On 24th October, 2026, at about 7am, the community’s hope turned to horror as her tiny body was found abandoned in a small pit behind the village,” he said.
The police spokesman said operatives attached to the Soro Division responded after receiving the report, secured the scene and arrested one Sadiku Musa in connection with the incident.
The command did not provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the girl’s disappearance, the cause of death or the evidence linking the suspect to the case.
Both cases have since been transferred to the SCID in Bauchi for what the police described as discreet and thorough investigations.
The findings are expected to help establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine whether criminal charges should be brought against the suspects.
Police commissioner promises justice
The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the incidents, describing them as heartbreaking and inhuman.
He said children deserved protection from the adults entrusted with their care and assured the families that the command would pursue the cases.
“These are innocent souls. Children who looked up to adults for protection. We will ensure that justice speaks for Habiba and Mubarak,” the commissioner said.
The statement referred to the deceased girl as Habiba, although the police account initially identified her as Jabiba.
Aliyu also urged parents, guardians and community leaders to pay closer attention to the safety of children and report suspicious movements or individuals to security agencies.
The command’s appeal comes amid recurring reports of alleged violence against children in domestic settings across Nigeria, including cases involving harmful substances.
Similar cases reported in Enugu, Yobe
The Bauchi incidents bear similarities to previous cases reported in other parts of the country, in which children were allegedly poisoned by adults responsible for their care.
In April 2021, the Enugu State Police Command arrested a 29-year-old woman, Nnenna Egwuagu, over the alleged death of her three-year-old stepson, Wisdom Egwuagu, in Umulumgbe community, Udi LGA.
According to a police statement, the child’s father, Justine Egwuagu, reported the incident after suspecting that his wife had administered a harmful substance to the boy.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had allegedly given the child a substance suspected to be insecticide. Investigators also reportedly recovered a container and syringe believed to have been used in administering the substance.
The child was confirmed dead in hospital, while the police said the investigation had been transferred to the state criminal investigation department.
The case highlighted the importance of investigating suspicious childhood deaths and preserving physical evidence that could help establish the cause of death.
Yobe case left three children dead
In September 2021, the Yobe State Police Command also arrested a 22-year-old housewife, Khadija Yakubu, over the alleged poisoning of four stepchildren in Potiskum.
Reports said the children had allegedly consumed tea prepared by the suspect.
Three of the children, aged between seven and 12, died while receiving treatment, while another was reported to be in critical condition.
The children’s father reportedly lodged a complaint with the police, prompting an investigation into the incident.
The case drew attention to the vulnerability of children in households where they depend entirely on adults for food, supervision and medical assistance.
Although the Yobe case involved multiple victims, as with the Bauchi incident, the allegations required investigation to establish the precise circumstances and the responsibility of those involved.
Ondo landlady arrested over alleged poisoning
More recently, in February 2026, the Ondo State Police Command arrested a 40-year-old landlady, Nafisat Lateef, over the alleged poisoning of her three-year-old tenant’s son in Omifon, Odigbo LGA.
The suspect allegedly gave the boy, identified as Abdulrasheed, a liquid substance suspected to be poisonous following a disagreement with his mother, Rofiat.
The child reportedly began vomiting shortly after consuming the substance and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
Police said detectives arrested the suspect and recovered the liquid substance as part of their investigation.
Unlike the Bauchi case involving Mubarak, the Ondo report stated that the child received medical attention. The reported incident nevertheless illustrated the risks children may face when adults allow disputes to escalate into alleged acts of violence against minors.
The circumstances of the individual cases differ, and the allegations against the suspects should not be treated as proof of guilt.
Child protection and thorough investigations
The recurring reports have renewed attention on the responsibility of parents, guardians and other adults to protect children from harm, particularly in domestic environments where young victims may have limited ability to recognise danger or seek help.
Children often depend on adults for food, medication, supervision and access to healthcare. This dependence makes it essential for families and communities to take reports of unexplained illness, suspected poisoning, disappearance or violence seriously.
Medical examination, preservation of suspected substances, witness statements and forensic evidence can be critical in determining whether poisoning occurred and establishing the circumstances of a death.
Prompt reporting to the police is also important, particularly when a child dies unexpectedly or disappears under suspicious circumstances.
In the Bauchi cases, the transfer of both investigations to the SCID places the responsibility on detectives to establish the causes of death, examine the evidence and determine whether the suspects should face prosecution.
For the families of Mubarak and the young girl, the immediate concern remains obtaining answers about how the children died and ensuring that any person found responsible is held accountable in accordance with the law.
The police have appealed to residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies as investigations continue.
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