A 43-year-old woman, identified as Jamila Adamu, has died after her co-wife allegedly struck her on the forehead with a pestle during a domestic confrontation in Bauchi State.
The incident occurred at Tafawa Balewa Housing Estate in Bauchi, according to the state police command.
The police said the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Hauwa’u Haruna, is the second wife in the household where both women lived with their husband.
The command said its C-Division received information about the domestic incident at about 4:05pm and immediately dispatched detectives to the scene.
According to the police, preliminary investigation showed that Haruna allegedly attacked Adamu with a pestle, striking her on the forehead and causing her to lose consciousness.
The victim was rushed to the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, following the attack but was pronounced dead by a medical doctor.
Her remains have been deposited at the hospital mortuary pending autopsy.
The police said the suspect was arrested at the scene while the pestle allegedly used in the attack was recovered as an exhibit.
The command said preliminary findings indicated that the suspect allegedly acted while experiencing hallucinations, although further investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department for investigation and prosecution.
The police commissioner expressed condolences to the deceased’s family and urged members of the public to seek timely medical and psychosocial support for relatives experiencing psychological or behavioural difficulties.
