Police arrest Benue woman for killing 11-month-old daughter

• According to sources, the woman claimed the baby developed a high temperature and passed away in the early hours of Saturday
  

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A woman identified as Sughshater Ushahemba from Mbadyur council ward in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State faces allegations of poisoning her 11-month-old baby.

Reports from the community suggest that the woman allegedly administered a substance, suspected to be a chemical, to the baby early on Saturday.

According to sources, the woman claimed the baby developed a high temperature and passed away in the early hours of Saturday.

When attempting to bury the baby, she was reportedly apprehended.

However, the Information Officer for Logo LGA, Paul Pevikyaa, addressing journalists on Monday, mentioned that the woman had previously informed others that the baby fell ill at 12:31 am and passed away two hours later.”

He said, “When the woman was interviewed, she (the woman) said when they were asleep, around 12.31am, the baby started having high fever and that the body was so hot that she gave up within two hours.

“She said that the mistake she made was at day break, she failed to inform her neighbours of what happened in the night because there is a strong belief that when you have neighbours and when you are having difficulties at night, at least you can call your neighbours to help you and they can be your witness. But she never did that.”

The information officer, however, said that the woman later confessed to killing her baby because she was abandoned by the man who impregnated her.

“So when day broke, she now attempted burying the baby. The baby was 11 months old,” he said.

Pevikyaa added that the woman said she was impregnated by her boyfriend, and after she gave birth to a baby girl, the boy abandoned her with the child.

“She said she had been suffering with the child, and that was why she poisoned the baby by giving her a chemical that is used to spray grasses,” Pevikyaa said.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Command, SP, Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, saying the suspect is currently in custody.