Woman poisons co-wife’s kids in Niger, one dies

A woman named Mariya Abdullahi has been accused of poisoning her co-wife’s two children in the Takuti community of Lapai Local Government Area in Niger State. This happened because she could not have children of her own.

Reports say the children, aged four and nine, drank a liquid that is believed to be poison. This was given to them by Abdullahi in a cup.

One of the children died shortly after drinking the poison. The other child was taken to a general hospital, where she was still receiving treatment at the time of this report.

The incident took place on Friday. Abdullahi allegedly gave the children the poison after a friend encouraged her to do so.

Abdullahi told police at the Lapai Division that she chose to poison the children because she has not given her husband any children. She said her friend influenced her decision.

Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, confirmed the incident on Saturday. He noted that Abdullahi would be moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna for further questioning.

He stated, "On 6th November 2026 at about 6am, a report was received in Lapai that one Mariya Abdullahi of Takuti via Lapai gave some substance suspected to be poison to the children of her co-wife.

"Police operatives went to the scene and found the two children, aged four and nine, had been given the substance to drink, causing them to become unconscious.

"They were rushed to a nearby clinic, but when they arrived, one of the victims had died. The other child was referred to the general hospital and was receiving treatment.

"The suspect was arrested and is undergoing further questioning. She claimed a friend influenced her to commit the act because she could not have a child for her husband.

"She will soon be transferred to SCID Minna for proper prosecution."