A 30-year-old woman, Mercy Michael, was remanded in a correctional facility by a chief magistrates’ court in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, on Thursday, after being charged with the alleged murder of her eight-month-old daughter.
The incident has shocked the local community and drawn the attention of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which is leading the investigation.
Michael was charged with culpable homicide, in violation of Section 189 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law.
The prosecution, led by NSCDC’s Mr. Marcus Audu, informed the court that the case was first reported on December 11 by one Godfrey Sunday, a resident of Fadia Bakut, Zonkwa. According to Audu, Sunday had alerted the NSCDC after learning of the disturbing events.
The incident is believed to have occurred on December 10, when Michael allegedly fed her daughter rat poison, although the motive remains unclear.
The baby, in critical condition, was rushed to the General Hospital in Zonkwa. Despite efforts to save her, she passed away the following day.
Initially, the case was reported to the Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Kafanchan, but it was later transferred to the NSCDC for further investigation due to the nature of the incident. The NSCDC is working to gather additional details and establish the circumstances leading to the child’s tragic death.
In court, Michael did not enter a plea, as the presiding judge, Mr. Samson Kwasu, stated that the court lacked the necessary jurisdiction to hear the case.
Kwasu instructed the prosecutor to forward the case file to the State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice on how to proceed.
The judge adjourned the case until December 17 for further mention, allowing more time for the investigation and for the DPP to provide guidance on the legal proceedings.
The community in Zonkwa and beyond has been left in shock by the tragic incident. Local residents are awaiting further updates, particularly on the motives behind such a heinous act.
The case has sparked discussions about child protection, mental health, and the rising number of domestic violence-related incidents in the region.
