I Hit Her With A Pestle - 25-year-old Man Who Killed Stepmother Confesses

The suspect, Najib Shehu

A 25-year-old suspect, Najib Shehu, who killed his stepmother with a pestle and also inflicted injuries on his father last Thursday in Katsina has opened up on why he committed the heinous crime.

The command’s spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, made the disclosure shortly after Shehu was paraded at the command’s headquarters in Katsina.

Also displayed during the parade was the pestle that the suspect used in killing the 60- year old woman.

Shehu who spoke in Hausa and in altering English explained, “My name is Najib Shehu. I am 25-year-old and a 200-level Education Management student at the Federal University, Dutsin-ma.

“I have been having issues with my stepmother. But on that day, Thursday, I had just observed prayers and returned to our house. My father was sitting in the sitting room. Then, my stepmother entered holding a pestle and threatening me with it.

“She raised the pestle up to hit my head but I defended it. Then she wanted to hit on my legs but being a footballer, I jumped up and dodged it.

That one hit my father’s leg who was coming to intervene. Again, my stepmother raised the pestle up and wanted to hit me on the head again and I pushed her, the development which made the pestle hit her on the head and caused her to fall down and died.

“My mother is the first wife of my father and they are separated. I am however staying together with my father along with my stepmother at Ambassador Quarters, Katsina here. I regret my action as I did not want to commit the sin.”
 
The Command’s spokesman told journalists after the parade that Shehu would be arraigned in court immediately after the completion of the police investigation.

“You know it is a murder case and we must investigate thoroughly. We shall arraign him in court anytime from now immediately after the completion of our investigation,” Isah said.

A statement issued by the command on the incident added, “On 18, August 2022 at about 4 p.m, one Najib Shehu, 25, of Ambassador Quarters, Katsina, had a misunderstanding with his stepmother, Asiya Mohammed, 60 years of the same address. He went to the kitchen, grabbed a pestle, hit her severally with it on her head and as a result of which she sustained head injuries and was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

“In the spur of the moment, the suspect also hit his father severally with the said pestle on his leg and sustained a fracture in different places on his leg. The suspect has been arrested and confessed to the commission of the offence. The said pestle has been recovered as an exhibit. An investigation is ongoing.”

Family sources said the father is currently on admission at a hospital in katsina, receiving treatment.

There was no official reaction yet from the Federal University, Dutsin-ma on Shehu’s claim that he was a student of the institution.