Missing phone: Siblings bury 16-yr-old brother alive

IN a shocking and disturbing incident, a 16-year-old boy, Abubakar, was buried alive by his two siblings over a missing phone, in Zaria, Kaduna State. The brothers, aged 22 and 18, were arrested by the police after a good Samaritan discovered Abubakar's head protruding from a hole in an abandoned property.

The incident, which went viral on social media and was condemned by the public, drew the attention of the authorities in the state, which led to the arrest of the brothers. 

Hajiya Rabi Salisu, the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development in Kaduna State said the incident was shocking and disturbing.

She said: “I’ve never seen someone buried alive apart from such acts in films. This boy, Abubakar, 16-year-old, was buried by his brothers because of a missing a phone.

“They dug a hole, tied his hands backwards and sealed his mouth. They buried him, leaving only his head outside covered with rags inside an abandoned property near a farm. It was a good Samaritan, who heard the boy coughing that raised the alarm, whiçh attracted other farmers that rescued the boy, as seen in the video which went viral in social media.

“The culprits were 22 and 18 year-old brothers who were arrested by the police. We will be going to court after their investigation. The government will not take it lightly, in the protection of children’s rights and others whose rights are violated in Kaduna State.”

Spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mansir Hassan confirmed the incident and assured that the culprits were in police custody, adding that investigation was in progress before they would be taken to court. 

Abubakar was to return to Zaria after they had agreed to pay him, but they later trailed him back to Zaria, where they buried him alive as a form of torture, so that he would confuse over the missing phone. 

Hassan said the culprits have since accepted committing the crime.

NAN