Epileptic Boy Chained For Two Years By His Family, Rescued In Kebbi

• Epileptic Boy Chained For Two Years By His Family, Rescued In Kebbi
• DSP Nafi’u Abubakar, confirmed this to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Monday

Kebbi state police command has arrested one Jibrin Aliyu, and his three wives for allegedly chaining their 11-year-old son for two years in their house, Ekohotblog reports

The Public Relations Officer(PPRO) of the command, DSP Nafi’u Abubakar, confirmed this to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

He said: “Yes our men have arrested a father to an 11-year-old, Jibrin Aliyu, and three wives for allegedly chaining the boy for over two years.

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“Our men arrested the suspects on Sunday in Badariya area of Birnin Kebbi Local Government, and the boy is at Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital as the investigation is till on going to unravel the circumstances behind chaining the boy in animal stall for that period,” Abubakar said.

The victim’s elder brother Bilal Aliyu, while speaking to reporters, denied allegations leveled against his father.

He said, “My brother whom we happen to be same father with was epileptic right from when he was born, but periodically recovers from his ailment upon which was the reason why he was sent to school and until his situation got worsen was in primary school two.

“After my father got separated with his mother (the boy), his mother had taken him to her patents village with a view to stay with her, and it was when his ailment bounced back and became worth that our father took him back as his mother eventually died.

“I can tell you, our father went to a great length to ensure that my brother got the best treatment he deserved as it took him to the extent of selling out his house and car in the course of the treatment, and unfortunately to no avail,” he said.

Aliyu claimed that the boy was only chained on daylight and taken to his room in the evening,saying the process was not more than one year.

Also, the Ward Head of the area, Alhaji Muhammad Attahiru, said, “In spite of my untireless effort in making sure that the area remains peaceful , and I was not aware of the incident until when the suspects were arrested.

“I had been coming to the frontage of the house to settle their matrimonial disputes as the man has three wives, but what baffles me I had never heard any information of a child being chained or abandoned in the house.

“The boy, when taken, was seeing emaciated, dehydrated and partially deformed because of prolonged detention and chaining as well as starvation, ” he said.

Attahiru urged the residents to report any suspicious move or person to the appropriate authority for further action.

Shortly after visiting the boy at the hospital, the Special Adviser to Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu on Women Affairs, Hajiya Zara’u Wali, described the development as unfortunate and shocking.

“Now the boy is in the hospital and responding to treatment courtesy of the state government under the able leadership of Gov. Atiku Bagudu,” she said.

She warned parents to desist from committing same crimes, noting that the government Frowns at such ill.