Tragedy struck in the city of Zaria, Kaduna State, when an 11-year-old girl named Fadila lost her life, allegedly at the hands of her own mother during a violent outburst.
The woman, identified only as Khadija, reportedly beat her daughter to death following a dispute over a missing ₦100 during the recent Sallah festivities.
According to accounts from the community, the incident unfolded after Khadija accused Fadila of misplacing or stealing the money that had been given to her as part of the celebration.
In a moment of uncontrollable anger, Khadija is said to have grabbed a nearby object and assaulted the child, resulting in fatal injuries.
Eyewitnesses and local residents have expressed shock but not surprise, claiming that Khadija was known to frequently subject Fadila to harsh discipline, often over trivial matters.
These punishments were reportedly tied to the street hawking the young girl was involved in—a task she undertook regularly, allegedly under her mother’s supervision.
The girl’s father, Malam Mustapha Musa, was away at work when the unfortunate event occurred. He recounted that he returned home only to be met with the harrowing news of his daughter’s death. Overwhelmed with grief, he subsequently took Fadila’s remains to their ancestral home in Kano State for burial.
In her statement to authorities, Khadija admitted to physically assaulting her daughter but claimed she never intended to kill her. She attributed her violent reaction to overwhelming emotional and psychological stress she had been enduring at the time.
Members of a local vigilante group were the first to respond to the incident. They quickly intervened and handed Khadija over to the police, who have since launched a formal investigation into the case.
This heartbreaking incident has reignited concerns around child abuse, mental health, and the pressures facing low-income families, particularly in communities where children are often expected to contribute financially through street vending and other forms of labor.