Bauchi Police arrest 20-year-old woman accused of pouring boiling water on her pregnant co-wife, after the newborn baby reportedly died from severe burns.
The death of a newborn following an alleged hot-water attack on the baby’s pregnant mother has led to the arrest of a 20-year-old woman in Bauchi State, police authorities said.
The suspect, identified as Rabi Abubakar, was taken into custody after allegedly pouring boiling water on the 30-year-old victim during a domestic dispute in Daba Village, Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The disturbing incident reportedly occurred on July 17, 2026, and has since attracted the attention of the police, who described the case as involving allegations of infanticide and causing grievous hurt.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
According to the police, the victim was heavily pregnant when she was allegedly attacked.
She sustained serious burn injuries and was immediately taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi for urgent medical care.
Despite the severity of her injuries, the victim reportedly remained under medical supervision and later went into labour.
The police said she gave birth to a baby boy on July 19, two days after the alleged attack. However, the newborn was said to have sustained severe burn injuries and died on the same day.
The mother, according to the command, is currently stable and responding to treatment at the hospital.
The incident was brought to the attention of the police on July 22, when the Officer-in-Charge of the Dabe Police Outstation under the Soro Division reportedly informed the command about the alleged attack.
The police said the report indicated that the incident took place at about 7:30 a.m. on July 17, when the suspect allegedly poured boiling water on her co-wife during a domestic altercation.
Following the receipt of the report, police operatives moved to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Officers reportedly visited the location where the alleged attack took place and commenced efforts to locate the suspect.
The police eventually traced and arrested Abubakar, who is from the same Daba Village in Bauchi Local Government Area.
During preliminary interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to committing the alleged offence, according to the police.
The command said the suspect remains in custody while further investigative procedures are being carried out.
The case is expected to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Bauchi for a more detailed investigation and subsequent prosecution.
In its account of the incident, the police said, “Operatives of the ‘C’ Division, Tafawa Balewa Estate, Bauchi have arrested one Rabi Abubakar, female, 20-years-old, of Daba Village, Bauchi LGA, in connection with an incident of infanticide and causing grievous hurt.”
The command added that the incident was formally reported on July 22 at about 8:00 a.m., following information received from the police outpost in Dabe.
The police statement further explained that the victim was taken to ATBUTH Bauchi after the alleged assault for medical attention.
“While on admission, and despite being heavily pregnant at the time of the assault, the victim gave birth to a baby boy on 19th July, 2026,” the statement said.
“Unfortunately, the newborn had severe burn injuries and died on the same day. The victim is currently stable and responding to treatment.”
The tragic development has once again highlighted concerns surrounding domestic violence and the need for disputes within families to be handled without resorting to physical attacks.
The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, mni, psc (+), strongly condemned the alleged act and assured residents that the police command would pursue the matter through the appropriate legal channels.
The commissioner also assured members of the public that the police would conduct a diligent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to the command, the investigation will help establish the full circumstances that led to the alleged attack and determine the appropriate legal action against the suspect.
The police leadership also used the opportunity to appeal to residents of the state to embrace peaceful methods when resolving disagreements, particularly within households and between family members.
The commissioner urged anyone experiencing domestic disputes or violence to seek assistance from the police and other relevant authorities instead of allowing conflicts to escalate into physical confrontations.
He further encouraged members of the public to report suspected cases of domestic violence as early as possible so that security agencies can intervene before such situations result in serious injuries or loss of life.
While the police have announced the arrest of the suspect, the investigation remains ongoing.
The allegations against Abubakar are yet to be tested in court, and she remains presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.
The case is expected to receive further attention as investigators at the SCID take over the matter and work to establish the facts surrounding the alleged attack, the injuries sustained by the victim and the circumstances surrounding the death of the newborn.
The incident has also raised concerns about the dangers of unresolved domestic disputes and the devastating consequences that can follow when disagreements turn violent.
As the investigation continues, the police have reiterated their commitment to ensuring that cases involving violence are properly investigated and handled in accordance with the law.
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