It was a near death experience for 13-year-old Hajara and Hauwa, 11, when they were beaten for illegally plucking 10 mangoes belonging to Muhammed Shettima in Pompomari area, Maiduguri, Borno State.
The video of the incident went viral at the weekend prompting the arrest of Shettima and his wife, who recorded the incident and posted it, reports Daily Trust.
Recounting their ordeals to our correspondent, the two biological sisters, Hauwa and Hajara Goni, said they were on their way to school when they went to Shettima’s house to pluck mangoes.
They said they asked for permission from a boy in the house to pluck the mangoes but the owner who came in soon after plucking the mangoes saw them.
“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,” said Hajara.
She said the owner of the mango tree attempted to chop their heads with a cutlass but his wife intervened and gave him canes.
“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.
“We were terrified when he cut the head of his chicken with the cutlass, saying he will do the same to us. He later picked the stick, chased us around the house and beat us repeatedly.
“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.
“It was one Keke Napep rider who happened to know our brother that pitied our condition and brought us close to our home,” she said.
The brutal beating of the two school children had triggered outrage on social media.
In a trending video of the assault, Shettima was seen beating the two girls while his wife was heard encouraging him to ‘beat them more’.
In an interview with our correspondent, the mother of the girls, Falmata Abubakar, said her heart skipped when she was called to pick up her two daughters dumped outside her house.
“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.
“I asked Hauwa, what happened? She lied that they fell from upstairs on their way to school. I rushed Hajara home. Her father quickly boiled water and started pressing on her body.
“He resuscitated her before we rushed her to a nearby clinic. We didn’t even have the money to settle the bills until some of our relatives supported us,” she said.
Falmata said she was attending to the children at the clinic when her husband came to tell her that social media has been awash with brutal beating of their children.
“I shed tears when I saw the kind of sticks he used on my daughters. I’m sure my daughters were afraid to tell me what happened to avoid my punishment, but what he did was inhumane,” she sobbed.
The father of the girls, Muhammad Goni, said the children had to receive three days’ treatment before they recovered from pains of the merciless beating.
“After spending two days treating the children, the state government and human rights groups had to take them to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for more treatment. They spent 24 hours in the trauma centre,” he said.
He called on the state government to help him ensure that justice is served to his two children.
How video triggered outrage
However, the video of the brutal beating has reignited calls by parents, government officials and advocacy groups for swift justice and measures to prevent such abuses.
Executive Director, Women in the New Nigeria and Youth Empowerment Initiative (WINN), Comrade Lucy Dlama Yunana, said the incident was so traumatic.
She thanked the Nigerian police for arresting and detaining the suspect, adding that criminal charges would be pressed against him.
“The Nigerian constitution does grant children the right to protection on inhumane treatment and degrading punishment and it also protects them from mental or emotional injury, “she said.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Borno State Command, said the couple were apprehended with the assistance of concerned citizens and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Borno State Command.
“On 19th March 2025, an 11-year-old girl, Hauwa Mohammed Goni, a Primary 5 pupil of Bolori Primary School, Federal Low Cost, entered the residence of one Mr. Muhammad Shetima 33yrs, in Pompomari to pluck mangoes. In response, Mr. Shetima and his wife, Mrs. Aishatu Abubakar 23yrs, accosted the child and subjected her to severe flogging.
“During the assault, Mrs Aishatu Abubakar recorded the incident and shared the video on social media.
“Concerned citizens and civil society organisations, including a petition filed by Potential Attorneys, swiftly raised the alarm, leading to the couple’s arrest.
“They were apprehended with the assistance of concerned citizens and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Borno State Command.
“The victim has since been taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for medical attention and she is responding to treatment.
“The suspects are currently at the Gender Unit, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Maiduguri as investigations are ongoing before prosecution.
“The command assures the public that the case will be thoroughly investigated, and the suspects will be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Child Protection Law and the Borno State Penal Code Law.
“For accountability and transparency, the command will continue to provide updates on the progress of the case,” the statement read.
The Borno State government has also taken legal action against Mamman Sheriff and his wife.
The Attorney-General of the state, Hauwa Abubakar, assured that justice would be served to the victims.
Also, relevant ministries that include, the ministry of women Affairs and Social Development, the Ministry of Education, have provided support to the families in different ways.
Meanwhile, the forum of Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs) to Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the brutal act on the victim, calling for a thorough investigation and punishment to the perpetrator(s) if found guilty.
The secretary of the forum, Hon. Yusuf Sawa in an interview described the incident as “barbaric, inhumane, child abuse and contrary to societal norms and values.
“We the entire SSAs and SAs Forum to His Excellency, Governor Babagana Zulum, watched the viral video with utmost shock.
