Police in Kebbi have arraigned Aliyu Umar father of the 12-year-old boy Jibrin Aliyu who was chained for two years in an animal stall in Badariya, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area.
Kebbi police spokesman Nafi’u Abubakar said in a statement on Thursday that Mr Umar was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court 1, Birnin Kebbi on a charge of cruelty to a minor.
The spokeman said the accused told the police that the boy has Down syndrome.
Mr Abubakar added that the father had admitted to the police that he tied up the boy with a rope in view of his inability to sustain his medication.
“The father had claimed that he had taken the boy to native doctors for medication up to the extent of selling some of his properties, but all in vain.
“Instead, he decided to prevent him from roaming about in the town, stoning peoples’ vehicles as well as injuring himself, which could lead to his death,” the statement read.
Aliyu was on August 9 found at his father’s residence tied with a rope alongside chickens. It was gathered that he had been tied up since his mother’s death.
He is currently receiving treatment at Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi.
