Residents of Ojike Waterfront in Diobu  area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, yesterday morning woke up to behold a tragedy, as a 38-year old woman, (name withheld) suffocated her two-year old child to death, while forcing the child to eat his Akamu breakfast meal.

The sad incident occurred by 8am, yesterday, as the distraught woman alerted the neighbourhood, after she rushed the victim to a nearby chemist, where the child was reportedly confirmed dead.

The Tide gathered that the woman, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, is a mother of two and has been resident at the waterfront for many years.

Reports also have it that the victim, a two-year old boy and second child of the mother, refused to eat his meals without coercion, thereby making the mother to always force him to eat.

On the fateful morning, the mother was said to have gripped the victim with a tight fist by the nose and mouth in a bid to force the food into his mouth.

But luck ran out of her, as the child choked to death during the process.

Some of the neighbours, who spoke to The Tide on condition of anonymity, blamed the mother of the victim for the misfortune.

They said that it has been her routine formula of feeding the child as the neighbourhood was always unnerved by the screams of the child each time he was being forced to eat by the mother.

They said; “we have always warned her to desist from the act, but she has always asked us to mind our business”.

When The Tide visited the scene, the mother of the victim was seen crying and yelling uncontrollably, regretting that her action led to the death of the child.

When contacted, the acting Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Command, ASP Grace Koko said she was yet to get details on the incident as at press time.

Beemene Taneh