20-year old girl commits suicide over husband’s choice in Niger

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

A 20 -year old Girl, Sadikatu Kwatu, at the weekend committed suicide at Dobwa Village, in Paiko Local Government of Niger state following disagreement between her and her parents over the choice of husband she was asked to marry.

The incident occurred at about 11 pm last Friday after her corpse was discovered by her father, one Mallam Umar Kwatu in her room where she was allegedly locked up and awaiting her wedding to one Hamza Ibrahim of same village.

Peoples Daily gathered that Sadikatu was said to have committed suicide by drinking an insecticide being used by her father in spraying his crops in the farm.

Further findings revealed that the bereaved father, Mallam Umar Kwatu reported the incident to the Police the following day, Saturday, 15th March 2014 at about 7: 30 am, adding that no sooner that his late daughter’s unconscious body was discovered the previous evening that she was quickly rushed to a private hospital ‘Sauki Clinic’ at Paiko where she was confirmed dead.

An insider source informed our reporter in Minna, the state capital yesterday that the complainant further informed the Police that the Late Sadikatu allegedly committed suicide because she did not want to marry the said Hamza Ibrahim whom she was said to have brought home and introduced to her parents for the best reasons known to her.

The source who pleaded anonymity in a brief chat with our reporter said, “The entire family insisted that she must marry the man”.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Police Command, Mr. Oguche Richard Adamu confirmed the incident on Monday and added that the corpse was taken to the General Hospital Minna for autopsy immediately after the case was reported to the Police.

According to Oguche, “the corpse was later released to the parents for burial according to Islamic rites.”