A 60-year-old woman, Hauwa Nelson, appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Yola, Adamawa State, where she confessed to causing multiple injuries to a 9-year-old adopted girl named Merable Nelson.

Following her admission of maltreatment towards Merable, the court ordered the defendant to be remanded in custody. The incident occurred when Merable was allegedly beaten repeatedly with a cable wire by Hauwa for reportedly consuming cooked macaroni without permission on the 24th of last month.

Hauwa faced a 3-count charge, including cruelty to a person, indecent treatment of a child, and voluntary causing of hurt, as per sections 209, 210, and 220 of the Penal Code Law 2018. During her arraignment before Chief Magistrate Muhammed Buba, Hauwa pleaded guilty to the charges brought against her by the Adamawa State Police Command.

According to the police, the incident took place on March 24, 2024, and was reported to the Command on March 27 by the Adamawa State Social Welfare Office. The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Zakka Musa, informed the court that Hauwa, residing in Bekaji, Jimeta, Yola, assaulted Merable, resulting in injuries on her back and other parts of her body, following the consumption of the macaroni.

Upon the defendant’s admission of guilt, the prosecutor requested an adjournment to enable him to summon a witness to corroborate the guilty plea.