A woman, Mariya Abdullahi, has allegedly poisoned two children of her co-wife in Takuti community, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, leaving one dead and the other hospitalised.
The suspect reportedly administered a substance suspected to be poison to the children, aged four and nine, after allegedly becoming frustrated over her inability to bear a child for her husband.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, November 6, was said to have happened after Abdullahi was allegedly persuaded by a friend to carry out the act.
The children reportedly became unconscious shortly after drinking the substance and were rushed to a nearby clinic for medical attention. However, one of them died shortly after arriving at the facility, while the surviving child was referred to a general hospital for further treatment.
The suspect was subsequently arrested by operatives of the Lapai Police Division and reportedly confessed to administering the substance to the children.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday, saying the suspect was being interrogated.
Abiodun said the police received information about the incident at about 6am on November 6 and immediately deployed operatives to the scene, where the two children were found unconscious.
He added that the suspect claimed she was influenced by a friend to commit the act because she could not have a child of her own. The police spokesman said she would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for further investigation and prosecution.
