The Kwara State Police Command has arrested and charged a woman, Sadiat Yunusa, over the alleged killing of a three-year-old girl, Ummaiyat Y., in Kaiama Local Government Area, in a case police say was driven by jealousy stemming from a long-running domestic dispute.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ojo Adekimi, disclosed the development on Friday in Ilorin while briefing journalists on the command’s recent efforts to combat violent crimes and strengthen public safety across Kwara.
According to the police commissioner, detectives launched an investigation on July 25 after receiving a distress report at the Kaiama Divisional Police Headquarters concerning the suspicious death of the child.
Police said preliminary findings showed that Ummaiyat had been left in the care of a family member after her mother went to Kaiama Central Market.
Investigators alleged that during that period, the suspect lured the child from the residence to a nearby farm settlement, where she allegedly strangled the victim.
Adekimi said swift police action led to the arrest of the suspect shortly after the incident.
He stated that during interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted responsibility for the crime.
According to the police commissioner, the suspect claimed her actions were motivated by bitterness over what she described as years of neglect by her husband, whom she accused of favouring his second wife and children over her own family.
“Prompt investigative efforts led to the arrest of the suspect, who, during interrogation, voluntarily confessed to the commission of the offence,” Adekimi said.
He added that the suspect allegedly disclosed that “the act was motivated by resentment and jealousy arising from a prolonged domestic dispute, alleging that her husband had neglected her and her three children in favour of his second wife.”
The police said the suspect has now been formally charged before a competent court, where the allegations against her will be determined in accordance with Nigerian law.
Under Nigeria’s legal system, every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court.
The incident has generated concern among residents of Kaiama, with many calling for justice for the deceased child while urging families and community leaders to pay closer attention to domestic conflicts that could escalate into violence.
Cases involving children remain among the most serious criminal offences investigated by law enforcement agencies in Nigeria. Child rights advocates have consistently urged families experiencing prolonged domestic disputes to seek peaceful resolution before tensions escalate into violence.
The Kwara State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to thorough investigations, diligent prosecution of criminal cases and the protection of lives and property across the state.
