A woman, identified only as Bassey, has
been arrested for allegedly inserting a stick of broom dipped in pepper into
the private parts of a nine-year-old boy, identified as Promise, in the
Ebute-Meta area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro reports that Bassey had accused the
victim, who was her nephew, of stealing N2,000.
Forcing him to confess to the crime, the mother
of four allegedly resorted to the extreme measure.Neighbours, who had reportedly observed the continuous abuse of Promise, reported the case to the police at the Iponri division.
Promise was taken to a hospital, where the stick of broom was removed.
A neighbour, who did not want to be identified, said Promise had been living with Bassey on Ashaka
Street for the past five years, adding that his parents were late.
He said,
“Promise is the son
of Bassey’s elder sister. His mother brought him to live with her so she could
assist him with his education.
“The boy was formerly in a private public school, but he was withdrawn immediately his mother died. His father is also late. Since that time, she turned him into an errand boy.
“I have known the boy for three years now and can categorically say that he is always being maltreated.
“There was a time the guardian beat him up and tortured him with a needle. She starved the boy for three days.
“On another occasion, she sent the boy out of the house in the night and left him outside till daybreak.”
“The boy was formerly in a private public school, but he was withdrawn immediately his mother died. His father is also late. Since that time, she turned him into an errand boy.
“I have known the boy for three years now and can categorically say that he is always being maltreated.
“There was a time the guardian beat him up and tortured him with a needle. She starved the boy for three days.
“On another occasion, she sent the boy out of the house in the night and left him outside till daybreak.”
He added that despite having four children from
different men, Bassey had never maltreated her own kids.
Another tenant said matters got to a head on Wednesday, January 4, when the suspect allegedly inserted a stick of broom which had been dipped in pepper into Promise’s penis for allegedly stealing N2,000.
He said,
Another tenant said matters got to a head on Wednesday, January 4, when the suspect allegedly inserted a stick of broom which had been dipped in pepper into Promise’s penis for allegedly stealing N2,000.
He said,
“She said she was looking
for N2,000 and accused the boy of stealing it. She beat him up with a stick and
used red pepper to rub his whole body. The boy was screaming, yet she did
not stop.
“After that, she inserted a stick of broom, dipped in Cameroon
pepper, into the boy’s private parts.
“We could not bear it again and we reported the abuse to the police at the Iponri division. She was arrested and is still in police custody.”
“We could not bear it again and we reported the abuse to the police at the Iponri division. She was arrested and is still in police custody.”
The tenant said some relatives of the suspect had
been threatening to deal with them for reporting the case to the police.
Meanwhile, officials of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender have taken the victim to a government shelter.
Meanwhile, officials of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender have taken the victim to a government shelter.
The Director of the OPD, Mrs. Salami Olubukola,
confirmed that Promise had been taken into custody.
She said,
She said,
“It is absolutely shocking
how adults mete out extreme punishment to kids for minor offences. How can one
justify inserting a stick of broom into the private parts of a boy? What if the
broom had broken inside the boy’s private parts? He would have been damaged for
life.
“No matter the offence, adults must learn to control their temper
when dealing with children. I hope she can reflect on her wicked actions
and change while in detention.”
Olubukola said the agency would intensify
campaign to reduce child abuse in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that the suspect had been remanded in prison.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that the suspect had been remanded in prison.
“I confirm the case. The
suspect has been charged to court and remanded in custody,” she said.
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