Rescue after screams
A neighbour named Zara told reporters she heard the victim's screams on Sunday and rushed to the house in the Kofa area of Maiduguri. She said she found the stepmother pressing the younger woman onto hot water that had spilled on the ground.
"I rushed to the house and found the stepmother pressing the girl onto the spilled hot water. I scolded her and used all my strength to pull her away. Unfortunately, she had already suffered severe burns before we rescued her," the neighbour said.
The victim, Zara Muhammad, was taken to a medical facility for treatment. She is a breastfeeding mother.
The dispute
According to Zara Muhammad, the trouble started when her young daughter tried to enter her stepmother's room. The stepmother stopped the child. Zara intervened and took her daughter away.
Tension between the two women continued for about three days before the attack, the victim said. She alleged that the situation escalated after her stepmother threatened to stop providing food for her and her child.
"When I replied that God would provide for me and my little girl, she rushed at me and pressed me into the boiling water she had spilled on the ground," Zara Muhammad said.
Residents alleged that Zara had faced hardship since becoming pregnant after her partner reportedly abandoned her. They claimed she was subjected to neglect and maltreatment following the birth of her child. Those allegations have not been independently verified.
Father denies neglect
The victim's father denied claims that his daughter was neglected or that he attempted to protect his wife from consequences. He said Zara was taken to the hospital after the incident.
The alleged attacker has been arrested and placed in security custody. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Official response
Following intervention by the Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Zuweira Gambo, a response team evacuated Zara to a medical facility for treatment.
The case has renewed concerns around domestic violence in Borno State and the need for early intervention in household disputes before they escalate into serious harm.
The investigation is ongoing. The suspect remains in custody.
According to Pulse.ng.
