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The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the death of two children in Alkaleri and Ganjuwa Local Government Areas, including a six-year-old boy who reportedly died after drinking a drink given to him by his stepmother.
Police said the first incident occurred in Kwaimawa community, Alkaleri LGA, where Mubarak Ibrahim reportedly developed severe symptoms shortly after drinking a drink allegedly given to him by his stepmother, identified as Fatima Ibrahim. Project 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 was reported 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 arrested the suspects in both cases and transferred the investigation to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further action.
The six-year-old boy dies after eight days in hospital
According to the police spokesperson, Mubarak’s ordeal began after he allegedly consumed a drink offered to him by his stepmother in the Kwaimawa community.
Habib said the child, who was reportedly in good spirits before the incident, suddenly started vomiting uncontrollably after taking the drink.
The development reportedly threw his family into panic, prompting them to rush him to the Primary Health Care Center in Kwaimawa for medical treatment.
He was later transferred to the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Gombe, where doctors reportedly fought to save his life for eight days.
However, the boy was confirmed dead by medical staff on October 24, 2026.
Following a complaint lodged by the Kwaimawa village chief, police said detectives began investigating the circumstances of the child’s death.
The operation later led to the arrest of Fatima Ibrahim, who is being held in police custody while investigators work to establish what happened.
Police have yet to reveal the outcome of any forensic tests or publicly confirm whether toxicology tests have established the presence of a poisonous substance in the drink.
The charges against the suspect remain under investigation.
Missing girl found dead in Ganjuwa
In the second incident, police said five-year-old Jabiba Abubakar lived with her aunt in Zaila community and her grandfather in Badaromo village before she was reported missing.
Habib said the search for the little girl ended in tragedy when her body was discovered in a small pit behind the village.
βOn October 24, 2026, at around 7am, the community’s hope turned to horror when her tiny body was found abandoned in a small grave behind the village,β he said.
The police spokesperson said officers from 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 on the circumstances of the girl’s disappearance, the cause of death or evidence linking the suspect to the case.
Both cases were later transferred to the Bauchi SCID 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.
The police commissioner promises justice
The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has condemned the incidents, describing them as heartbreaking and inhumane.
He said children deserve protection from the adults in their care and assured families that the command will prosecute the cases.
“These are innocent souls. Children who have sought protection from adults. 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 more attention to the safety of children and to 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 elsewhere in 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 boy’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 gave the child a substance suspected of being an insecticide. Investigators also reportedly recovered a container and syringe believed to have been used to administer the substance.
The child was confirmed dead in hospital, while police said the investigation had been transferred to the state criminal investigation department.
The case highlighted the importance of investigating suspicious infant deaths and preserving physical evidence that could help establish the cause of death.
The Yobe case resulted in the deaths of three children
In September 2021, the Yobe State Police Command also arrested a 22-year-old housewife, Khadija Yakubu, for the alleged poisoning of four stepchildren in Potiskum.
Reports stated that the children allegedly consumed tea prepared by the suspect.
Three of the children, aged between seven and 12, died while receiving treatment, while another is said to be in critical condition.
The children’s father reportedly filed a police report, launching an investigation into the incident.
The case drew attention to the vulnerability of children in families where they depend entirely on adults for food, supervision and medical care.
Although the Yobe case involved more victims, as in the Bauchi case, the allegations required an investigation to establish the precise circumstances and responsibility of those involved.
Ondo landlady arrested for alleged poisoning
Most recently, in February 2026, the Ondo State Police Command arrested a 40-year-old landlady, Nafisat Lateef, for 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 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 states that the child received medical treatment. The reported incident, however, illustrated the risks children can face when adults allow disputes to escalate into alleged acts of violence against minors.
The circumstances of individual cases differ and charges against suspects should not be treated as evidence of guilt.
Protection of minors and in-depth investigations
Recurring reports have renewed attention on the responsibility of parents, guardians and other adults to protect children from harm, particularly in home environments where young victims may have limited ability to recognize danger or seek help.
Children often depend on adults for food, medications, supervision, and access to health care. This reliance makes it essential that families and communities take reports of unexplained illnesses, suspected poisonings, disappearances or violence seriously.
Medical examination, preservation of suspected substances, witness statements and forensic evidence can be crucial in determining whether poisoning has occurred and establishing the circumstances of a death.
It is also important to report to the police promptly, particularly when a child dies unexpectedly or goes missing under suspicious circumstances.
In the Bauchi cases, the transfer of both investigations to the SCID places the responsibility on investigators to establish causes of death, examine evidence and determine whether suspects should be prosecuted.
For the families of Mubarak and the young girl, the immediate concern remains getting answers about how the children died and ensuring that any person held responsible is held accountable in accordance with the law.
Police have appealed to residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies as investigations continue.
