Father kills daughter with rat poison

Read: Man confesses how he killed friend, buried him in shallow grave

Narrating her ordeal to Leadership, Maryam confirmed that her first encounter with love was with Jarelu Ahmed, who she met 14 years ago.

Ahmed was a Muslim and she was a Christian but because of her love for him, Maryam was willing and resolved to convert to Islam so they can marry without hitches.

While preparing to marry, they crave to know each other carnally overpowered both of them and before you know it Maryam had conceived.

The new development eventually led the two promising lovers to fall apart and before the pregnancy developed, they were not on speaking terms.

It was in this condition that Maryam was delivered of a healthy baby girl over 13 years ago.

When Maryam realised Jarelu was not willing to settle with her, as he had abandoned her and the baby, she decided to marry another man and this marriage successfully produced four children.

However, sometimes last month, Maryam decided upon her guardian’s advice to take her daughter, Hajara to her father’s family as according her; “a girl’s honour lies with her paternal family.”

This led to a sad turn in events as Jarelu decided to kill his daughter, Hajara at his family home using rat poison to perform the dastardly act.

After killing her, he dug a grave and buried her in his room.

Maryam said she had no idea why Jerelu killed his daughter in cold blood.

“Jarelu killed Hajara with rat poison. I learnt that he met his uncle, who serves as a father to him, Chief Imam of Bauchi Bala Baban Inna that he wants to take Hajara to the Emir’s palace to meet their relatives because they are related. His father consented and he came and told the Imam’s wife to get Hajara ready. She was together with other children in their section when her father called her and instead of taking her out of the house, he took her to his quarters.”

Maryam added that when they entered his room;

“he had already bought the rat poison. He lured her to his room and gave her tea laced with the rat poison. At first, she refused as she told him she had taken her breakfast. He told her he is her father and will not harm her. She accepted the tea and after 2 sips, she started writhing in pain and complaining of stomach pain. He locked the door and left. One of the children, who observed that Jarelu came out of his room without Hajara, went and told her mother what happened.”

Read: Muslim father strangles daughter in honour killing after she is caught stealing condoms

When contacted, the Chief Imam, who is the head of the family, said he will not comment on the case until investigations have been completed by the police.

The PPRO confirmed that the case is still under investigation.