According to Leadership News, In a disturbing incident that has shocked the nation, two siblings have been arrested by the Police in Zaria, Kaduna State, for burying their 16-year-old cousin alive over an alleged theft of a mobile phone. The incident, which took place in the Gauraki community of Kufaina Ward, has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation after details of the horrific act were circulated on social media.
The victim, a young boy named Abubakar, was subjected to this harrowing ordeal by his cousins, who accused him of stealing a mobile phone. According to local reports, the two brothers, who are now in police custody, took it upon themselves to exact brutal punishment on Abubakar without any evidence. The situation escalated to an unimaginable level of cruelty when they decided to bury the boy alive.
The incident occurred in an abandoned property near a farm, where the suspects dug a hole, bound Abubakar’s hands behind his back, and sealed his mouth. They then buried him, leaving only his head exposed, which they covered with rags. The gruesome act was only discovered when a good samaritan passing by heard the boy’s muffled coughing. Alarmed by the sounds, the samaritan called for help, and nearby farmers rushed to the scene. The boy was subsequently rescued, but not before enduring severe trauma.
The case has drawn significant attention from the State’s authorities, particularly the Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu. She expressed deep concern and outrage over the incident, highlighting the cruelty involved in the act. Hajiya Salisu emphasized that the perpetrators would face the full weight of the law, assuring the public that justice would be served for the inhumane treatment of the young victim.
This incident has also reignited discussions about the growing concerns over vigilante justice in some parts of Nigeria. The manner in which the boy was punished without a fair investigation or trial has led to calls for greater awareness and enforcement of the rule of law, especially in rural areas where such incidents might go unreported.
According to her, “I’ve never seen someone buried alive apart from what we see in films. This boy, Abubakar, a 16-year-old, was buried by his brothers because of a missing 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 alarm which attracted other farmers that rescued the boy, as contained in the video, which went viral on social media.