A 12-year-old boy has been rescued after spending two years starving, living off goat feed in an animal shed, while his cruel father and three step-mothers lived in comfort with his 17 siblings in Kebbi state.
A tip off to a team of human rights lawyers led them on Sunday to an animal shed, where they found the boy, barely able to stand and starving.
He was tied to a wooden pillar and had been reportedly living among goats and chickens for two years.
According to the head of the rescue team, Hamza Attahiru Wala, the boy’s family, including his father and his three wives, were found living in comfort inside the home.
The youngster, whose mother is said to have died two years ago, was rushed to a hospital in Birnin Kebbi, where he is being looked after in intensive care.
The Public Relations Officer of the rescue team, DSP Nafi’u Abubakar, said: ‘Yes our men have arrested a father to an 11-year-old, Jibrin Aliyu, and three wives for allegedly chaining the boy for over two years.
‘Our men arrested the suspects on Sunday in Badariya area of Birnin Kebbi Local Government, and the boy is at Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital as the investigation is till on going to unravel the circumstances behind chaining the boy in animal stall for that period,’ Abubakar said.
An elder brother to victim reportedly told journalists that the boy suffered from epilepsy and the family chained him to the post to stop him going missing.
The brother claimed the boy was only chained up during daylight hours, the Sun Nigeria reported, insisting that he sold his house and car to fund his epilepsy treatment.
The boy is in hospital responding to treatment.