A pregnant internally displaced woman has been killed in Mokwa, Niger State, after she reportedly left the makeshift shelter where she was staying to gather Cassia Tora, locally known as ‘Tafasa’, for breakfast.
The incident occurred around 8am on Sunday along a railway line in Mokwa, the headquarters of Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.
A resident, Mohammed Umaru, who disclosed the incident, said the victim was attacked and stabbed while she was in the bush gathering the plant.
According to him, the deceased was among displaced persons who fled communities in Kwara State following terrorist attacks.
Umaru said the woman and other displaced persons had been taking refuge in an uncompleted building located behind Dufya Primary School in Mokwa.
He said the woman left the makeshift camp in the morning to collect Tafasa, but failed to return, prompting other displaced persons and residents to begin a search for her.
Her body was later discovered near the railway line.
“The woman is an internally displaced person due to bandits’ attacks. They live in an uncompleted building close to Dufya Primary School.
“She left the camp to get ‘Tafasa’ which they often eat. She did not return and people went in search for her and found her dead. Her stomach was cut and baby was removed. Only God knows who did that,” he said.
The circumstances surrounding the killing remained unclear as of the time of filing the report.
The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, did not respond to a message sent to him, as of the time of filing this report.
( DAILY TRUST)
