Police Arrest Father For Allegedly Killing Teenage Daughter Who Resisted Forced Marriage
The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a man, Kabir Sani, over the alleged death of his teenage daughter, Ummul Khair, following a reported assault linked to a dispute over a proposed marriage.
The suspect, a commercial driver and resident of the Shagari Low Cost area of Katsina metropolis, was taken into custody by operatives of the Katsina Central Market Police Division shortly after the incident.
Residents said the deceased, believed to be between 16 and 18 years old, had repeatedly resisted attempts by her father to marry her to a suitor he had chosen, a disagreement that reportedly caused prolonged tension within the family.
According to eyewitnesses, the father allegedly began beating the teenager on Wednesday.
Concerned neighbours, who heard her cries for help, reportedly made several attempts to gain access to the house but were unsuccessful, as the suspect allegedly refused to open the door.
The assault was said to have continued into Thursday morning until the girl lost consciousness.
The incident came to light when some of the deceased’s friends visited the house on Thursday to accompany her to school.
They reportedly discovered her lifeless and alerted neighbours after allegedly finding her father preparing for her burial.
One resident said the community was shocked by the incident, recalling that neighbours had repeatedly tried to intervene after hearing the teenager’s cries throughout the night.
Another resident alleged that the deceased had insisted on choosing her own marriage partner, while her father remained determined to marry her off to a man of his preference.
The victim was buried on Thursday at the Abbatoir Cemetery in Katsina metropolis in accordance with Islamic rites.
Police sources confirmed that the suspect remains in custody as detectives continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, DSP Sadik Aliyu, confirmed awareness of the incident but said further details would be made available after the ongoing investigation is concluded.
