14-Year-Old Bride Admitted Killing Her Husband

A Kano child-bride has ‘admitted’ killing her 35-year-old husband with rat poison, and signed a police confession with a thumbprint because she cannot write.

Wasila Tasi’u, 14, is said to have murdered her husband, Umaru

But, according to officers, 14-year-old Wasila Tasi’u had to sign the confession with her thumbprint because she couldn’t read it.

Prosecutors are looking for the death penalty for the teenager, but human rights activists said she should be seen as victim of cruelty.
If Wasila is found guilty, she could become the first child to be executed in Nigeria for 18 years.

Sani Garba, holds a picture of his daughter-in-law Wasila Tasi’u

Gezawa High Court flooded with people wanting to witness the slaughter hearing.

Umar’s second wife, Ramatu, took to the witness stand to tell the court how her “co-wife” prepared their husband dinner before being due to go to bed with him.

She said “after putting the food in the dish I didn’t see anybody put anything in it,” but she told the court she saw her husband foaming at the mouth and unable to walk later on.

A 7-year-old girl named Hamziyya, considered to be the teenager’s sister and living in the same home, was supposedly sent to buy rat poison by Wasila, which was confirmed by storekeeper Abuwa Yusuf.

Hamziyya told the court: “She said rats were disturbing her in her room.”

Wasila Tasiu speaks with an unidentified defence counsel.

A not guilty plea has been entered for the 14-year-old.
The trial has been postponed until February 16.


According to Human Rights Watch, Nigeria is not known to have executed a juvenile offender since 1997, when the country was ruled by military dictator Sani Abacha.
Wasila Umaru allegedly killed her 35-year old groom, Umaru Sani and three other persons in Ungwar yansoro in Gaya local government area of Kano state.