A woman in Benue state, identified as Mrs. Charity Upev has allegedly beaten to death, her 10-year-old stepson, Fanen, over a missing piece of meat, on Monday January 23, 2023.
The ugly incident reportedly occured along the popular Abu King Shuluwa Way near the international market, behind Deeper life camp in Makurdi, the state capital.
According to reports, Mrs Upev, a mother of two, beat up Fanen on Sunday afternoon, January 22, for allegedly taking a piece of meat from her pot of soup. By evening, the lad started vomiting substances suspected to be blood.
Truth Live News gathered that a source in the neighbourhood who pleaded anonymity said that the incident stirred up rage among youth in the community, who almost mobbed the woman, but for the rapid intervention of the police who took her away.
“The woman was said to have beaten the boy Sunday morning for allegedly picking a piece of meat from her pot of soup, but much later in the evening the boy started vomiting what was suspected to be blood.
“He was rushed to the hospital where he was shortly after pronounced dead. So everyone is saying the boy who is the stepson of the woman, must have suffered internal bleeding which led to his death.
“Though it is an assumption because the autopsy on the cause of death is not yet out, but the general belief in the neighbourhood is that he died as a result of the beating he received earlier in the day.”
The Benue State Police Command, through it’s Spokesperson, SP. Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident and also confirmed the arrest of the suspect.
In a statement, SP Anene said that the Police were notified of the incident on Sunday evening and they swung into action immediately.
“On January 23, 2023 at about 5pm, a case of culpable homicide was reported at the ‘E’ Police Division, Makurdi. A team of detectives were deployed immediately.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased, Fanen Yange, 10 years old of International Market Area, Makurdi was alleged by his stepmother, Mrs. Upev to have stolen meat from the pot and she beat him up during the early hours of the day but when the victim went to sleep at night, he could not wake up.”
The PPRO further revealed that Fanen’s corpse had been deposited at Bishop Murray hospital mortuary in Makurdi for autopsy, while investigation is currently going on.
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