Lawmaker Loses Wife To Concoction

The police in Katsina State have commenced investigations into the circumstances that led to the death of the wife of a member of Katsina State House of Assembly, Binta Safiyanu, who died after allegedly drinking a herbal concoction to boost the flow of breast milk.

According to reports, Binta, a mother of six, was said to have died just about seven days after being delivered of a set of twins.

It was gathered that Binta was the first wife of Yunusa Jikamshi, the lawmaker representing Musawa Constituency in the State House of Assembly. It was said that after being delivered of her babies, her breast milk was not flowing as it should be, a development which made her co-wives to persuade her to drink the concoction. She was assured that the concoction would enhance the flow of her breast milk.

It was said that Binta allegedly directed a woman simply identified as Sakina to prepare the concoction for her. It was reported that immediately after she drank the concoction, she started vomiting. The vomiting was said to have continued and she was subsequently rushed to Musawa General Hospital, where she was confirmed dead. Binta has been buried according to Islamic rites.

The matter was initially reported at the Musawa police station and Sakina was arrested. The case was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Bureau in Katsina for further investigation.

The spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, DSP Isah Gambo, confirmed the incident. He added that investigations were ongoing in order to unravel the real circumstances that led to Binta’s death.

The lawmaker could not be reached for comment as he was said to be out of Katsina as at the time of filing this report. Some of the residents blamed Binta’s death on her co-wives for suggesting the concoction, while others said that she was used to taking herbal mixtures before the unfortunate incident.