NIGERIA – Hunger-induced
crimes in Minna, Niger State capital have taken a worrying dimension as
hungry youths now go about snatching food packs from nursery and
primary school children on their way to school, The Guardian reports.
The
latest victim, one Fati Sanusi, a four-year-old nursery two pupil of
Mega Stars Academy, located in Kpakungu, Minna, alleged that her food
pack, prepared by her mother was snatched from her by a youth.
Headmistress
of the school, Mrs. Cecilia Bunmi Koseemani, who confirmed the incident
exclusively to The Guardian, said that it was difficult to get the
little girl to stop crying.
“We had to send for her
mother who prevailed on the four-year-old girl before she stopped
crying. The mother later rushed back home to prepare Indomie for her
instead of the rice meal that was initially snatched from her.” said Mrs
Koseemani.
The Headmistress appealed to parents to try
and put their little school children in the care of grown up
schoolmates, so as to avoid such things in the future, describing the
incident as a reflection of the prevailing hardship in the country.
Other
cases of hunger-induced crimes includes reports of people stealing food
still on fire, as well as women collecting food items from sellers in
the market and deliberately taking to their heels instead of paying. It
was also reported that a housewife stabbed her rival to death over the
modalities for sharing a measure of Gaari (Cassava flour) brought home
by their husband.
Source: The Guardian
