Kebbi State Police Command has arrested a father and his three wives for allegedly chaining his 11-year-old epileptic boy in an animal stall for two years.
The boy, named Jibril Aliyu, from Badariya Area of Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, reportedly lost his mother 2 years ago. His stepmothers allegedly began maltreating him afterwards and denied him proper care.
The epileptic boy was reportedly chained with animals and had to survive by eating remnants of the animals’ food. He also sometimes ate his own faeces, Manir Jega who shared videos of the boy’s rescue said.
Manir adds: “As a result of monstrous and nefarious treatment he was subjected to, he entirely lost his senses and behaves exactly like an animal.”
The Public Relations Officer(PPRO) of the command, DSP Nafi’u Abubakar, confirmed the arrest of the boy’s father and stepmothers 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.
“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 still ongoing to unravel the circumstances behind chaining the boy in animal stall for that period.”
While speaking with newsmen, an elder brother to the victim, Bilal Aliyu, who denied chaining the boy, said that the boy was temporarily chained for fear of being missing from the house because he is epileptic from the birth.
“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 in the day time and taken to his room in the evening, adding that this hasn’t gone on for more than one year.
The boy is now in the hospital and responding to treatment.
Below are tweets and a video detailing the boy’s rescue.
