A 17-year-old girl, Sadiya Shehu, has died by suicide in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State over a misunderstanding between her parents that led to their divorce.
Ms Shehu of Tudun Murtala quarters died on Monday after consuming insecticide locally known as ‘otapiapia’ which was kept in her mother’s room to repel insects.
The deceased’s father, Shehu Lawan, told Chronicle that his daughter died by suicide as a result of “a minor problem” that occurred between him and her mother on Sunday.
Mr Lawan said the deceased was proposed to marry a young man before the incident.
He said that the last time he spoke with his proposed son-in-law he was promised that plans would be concluded soon “for their wedding as soon as his father returns to Nigeria from Saudi Arabia.”
The girl’s mother, Amina Shehu, said trouble started when her husband’s niece, Maryam, punished the deceased’s younger brother.
“I told him that the punishment was too severe even if he actually committed the offence against the girl,” she said.
The deceased’s mother said her husband got angry and announced their divorce in the presence of the deceased.
The teenager unhappy with the incident pleaded with her father.
Her mother said she consumed the insecticide the next morning.
Kano police spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna, said the police were yet to receive report of the suicide but said he would get information from the district police officer in charge of the area.
