A horrifying case of child mistreatment has surfaced in Abuja involving 14-year-old Bashariya, who fled violence in Zamfara State with her parents and was living in an IDP camp near Gwiwa Eka.
Her plight worsened when Fauziya—wife of Sokoto judge Barrister Abbakar Zaki—recruited her as a domestic helper and took her to the capital. Instead of the promised safety, Bashariya was reportedly starved, beaten and even forced to bathe in fire, as revealed by disturbing footage and family testimony. Neighbors who witnessed her condition intervened and provided urgent medical attention.
The girl’s father recounted Fauziya’s brazen claim that “there was nothing authorities could do against her and her husband, as they represented ‘the highest authority.’”
When contacted, FCT Police PRO SP Josephine Adeh confirmed that, despite the absence of an initial complaint, the Commissioner of Police has ordered all Divisional Police Officers to locate and arrest the suspect immediately. She urged the public to avoid hiring children they cannot properly care for and to report any suspected abuse without delay.
“He strongly advises members of the public against acts of child abuse and emphasises that anyone who knows they are not capable of properly caring for a child should refrain from taking on such responsibility,” SP Adeh said.
“The public is also encouraged to report incidents of abuse or suspicious behaviour to the police promptly, when you see something, say something. Together, we can ensure the safety and wellbeing of every child in our communities.”
