Family Arrested for Feeding Day-Old Baby to Dog in Katsina

Family Arrested for Feeding Day-Old Baby to Dog in Katsina

The Nigerian police in Kastina State have arrested a family of five for allegedly feeding a day-old baby boy to a dog.

The incident happened at Saika village in Batsari Local Government Area.

Those being held include a 15-year-old Wosila Halilu, her three stepbrothers and her mother.

The Punch reports that Wosila, who is the mother of the baby, got pregnant after she was raped by a 27-year-old farmer, Musa Garba. She claimed that Garba lured her into a farm and raped her.

An unnamed Police source told the newspaper that the family viewed the pregnancy as shameful since she had it out of wedlock.

The source said the family held a meeting after the baby was delivered and decided to feed it to a dog.

The village head of Saika, known as Dakacin Seika, reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of the family and the farmer.

Garba is being held for rape.

The culprits were brought before a Kastina Magistrate Court on three counts of culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy and rape. The prosecution said the offences were in contravention of sections 235, 387 and 85 of the Penal code.

Magistrate Nura Ladan directed that the suspects be remanded in police custody until the case comes up for further hearing on August 8, 2016.