Kebbi Police Arrest Woman for Burying Newborn Alive

The Kebbi State Police Command has taken into custody a 20-year-old woman accused of attempting to bury her newborn baby girl alive.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the shocking incident in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to Abubakar, the case occurred on June 25, 2025, at about 8:00 p.m., when one Maryam Atiku, a resident of the Nasarawa area in Kamba, Dandi Local Government Area, gave birth to a baby girl. Shortly after delivery, Maryam allegedly tied the infant’s neck with three wrappers, gagged her, and carried her into 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, Kabiru Muhammad, noticed a suspicious patch of freshly disturbed soil while working on his farmland close to Malam Yaro village. Alarmed, he called the attention of nearby residents. Together, they dug up the spot and found the baby still alive. The child was quickly rushed to the General Hospital in Kamba, where doctors confirmed she was stable after emergency care.

Police detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Birnin Kebbi, swung into action immediately after the report was filed. The suspect was apprehended, and during questioning, Maryam Atiku confessed to committing the act.

The Commissioner of Police, Bello Sani, condemned the incident in strong terms, stressing that the Command maintains a strict zero-tolerance stance against child abuse, exploitation, and all forms of gender-based violence.

Abubakar added that the Commissioner appealed to parents, guardians, and community leaders to uphold their moral and religious responsibilities by protecting children. He warned against using poverty or personal hardship as an excuse for inhumane behavior.