'My son has down syndrome' - Father reveals why he chained son for two years

The Police Command in Kebbi has arrested Aliyu Umar, father of the 12-year-old boy chained for two years in an animal stall in Badariya area of Birnin Kebbi Local Government.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Nafi’u Abubakar, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday that the father told the police that the boy has Down syndrome.

Abubakar added that the father had admitted to the Police that he tied up the boy with a rope in view of his inability to sustain his medication.

“The father had claimed that he had taken the boy to native doctors for medication up to the extent of selling some of his properties, but all in vain.

“Instead, he decided to prevent him from roaming about in the town, stoning peoples’ vehicles as well as injuring himself, which could lead to his death.”

He, however, said that the Police had arraigned Umar before Chief Magistrate Court 1, Birnin Kebbi, on a charge of cruelty to a minor.

NAN recalls that the boy, Jibrin Aliyu, was, on August 9, found at his father’s residence tied with a rope alongside with animals and chickens and was in that condition for two years after the demise of his mother.

The boy is currently on admission at Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi.