Hajara, 13, and Hauwa, 11, who were assaulted for plucking mangoes in the Pompomari area of Maiduguri, Borno State, have recounted their ordeal, revealing how Muhammad Shettima brandished a cutlass and threatened to behead them before locking the gate and beating them mercilessly with sticks.
His wife, Aishatu Abubakar, recorded and posted the incident online, triggering widespread outrage that led to their arrest.
The incident, first reported by newsmen, showed Shettima mercilessly flogging the two sisters while his wife encouraged him.
Calls for justice intensified after the footage went viral, prompting swift action from human rights groups and security agencies.
Recounting their ordeal, the girls said they were on their way to school when they stopped at Shettima’s house to pluck mangoes. They claimed to have asked a boy in the compound for permission but exceeded the agreed number, Daily Trust reports.
“The boy told us to quickly enter and remove two each but we plucked five each. Unfortunately, the owner of the compound returned home and saw us with the mangoes,” Hajara said.
She described how Shettima locked the gate, brought out a cutlass, and threatened to kill them. “He locked the gate, brought out a cutlass, threatened to hack us to death but his wife stopped him and brought some sticks for him.”
Shettima reportedly demonstrated his threat by slaughtering a chicken before the assault.
“We were terrified when he cut the head of his chicken with the cutlass, saying he would do the same to us. He later picked up the stick, chased us around the house and beat us repeatedly.”
When the girls were about to be released, Shettima’s wife insisted on further punishment after noticing that one of them had wet herself.
“He later opened the gate, but when the wife noticed that I urinated in my trousers, she asked him to beat me more; that’s when I fainted,” Hajara said.
A tricycle driver, who knew their family, later rescued them.
Their mother, Falmata Abubakar, described her shock upon finding her daughters dumped outside their home in critical condition.
“It was like a dream to me. In fact, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“It wasn’t more than 10 minutes they left home for school – hale and hearty – but were brought to me in a tricycle, one of them almost lifeless.”
The girls’ father, Muhammad Goni, said they had to undergo three days of treatment due to the severity of the assault.
“After spending two days treating the children, the state government and human rights groups had to take them to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for more treatment. They spent 24 hours in the trauma centre,” he said, calling for justice.
A statement from the Borno State Police Command confirmed the arrest of Shettima and his wife. “Concerned citizens and civil society organisations, including a petition filed by Potential Attorneys, swiftly raised the alarm, leading to the couple’s arrest,” the police said.
The suspects are currently in custody at the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Maiduguri.
The police assured that investigations were ongoing and that the couple would be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Child Protection Law and the Borno State Penal Code.
“For accountability and transparency, the command will continue to provide updates on the progress of the case,” the statement read.
The incident was first reported by SaharaReporters, which identified the assailant as Sani of Askira Close, Pompomari Bypass. The legal group Potent Attorneys petitioned the Borno State Commissioner of Police, calling for the suspect’s immediate arrest and prosecution.
The petition stated, “Justice must not be delayed,” and demanded a full investigation, medical and psychological care for the victim, and a firm stance against violence towards children.”
