The
police in Lagos have arrested a 39-year-old trader, Chinwe Abasi, for allegedly
brutalising a 12-year-old boy, Chinedu Okorie, with hot water in the Apapa area
of the state.
A
Punch correspondent learnt that Abasi, a mother of two, who hails from Nnewi,
Anambra State, allegedly poured hot water on the boy because he collected N100
from a neighbour to buy a pair of socks to wear to school without the woman’s
knowledge.
It
was learnt that Okorie, who is in Junior Secondary School 1, also worked as a
sales assistant for Abasi, who sold cloth materials in the Oyingbo Market.
It
was gathered that last Monday when schools resumed, Okorie told Abasi that he
would need to buy a pair of socks for school. Punch correspondent learnt that
the trader allegedly ignored the boy until Thursday when a neighbour,
identified only as Usman, gave Okorie N100 to buy the pair of socks.
It
was gathered that when Abasi learnt that the boy had collected money from Usman
to buy the pair of socks, she became angry and beat up the boy.
The
12-year-old was said to have ran to the kitchen during the flogging. Abasi
allegedly grabbed an electric kettle of boiling water and emptied it on the
boy.
The
matter was reported at the FESTAC Police Division and the trader was arrested.
It
was gathered that the matter was also reported to the Lagos State Domestic and
Sexual Violence Response Team, and a temporary shelter was provided for the
boy, where he also received medical attention.
Speaking
with Punch Metro, Okorie, who hails from Enugu State, said he was forced to
collect the N100 from Usman because he had no other option.
He
said, “I told madam (Abasi) last Monday that I needed to buy a pair of socks
for school. My teachers would seize my sandals without it. But she did not buy
them, and I went to collect money from our neighbour.
“When
she saw the pair of socks, she became angry and started to beat me. I ran into
the kitchen. That was where she grabbed the electric kettle and poured the
content ─ hot water ─
on me. It was around 7pm on Thursday.”
The
trader, however, told Punch Metro that she did not deliberately brutalise the
boy, adding that everyone knew she treated Okorie like her son.
She
said, “On Monday, pupils resumed school, and Chinedu (Okorie) told me he needed
a pair of socks and I said I would buy them for him. Unfortunately, when I came
back, I forgot. Later, our neighbour said Chinedu collected N100 from him to
buy the pair of socks. I was angry.
“I
queried him and warned him against the behaviour. On Thursday, I gave him N100
to buy another pair of socks. When he came back, he told me he used the money
for something else. So, I beat him up.
“There
were times when I gave him N1,000 to go and buy fuel. He would spend three
hours and later say he misplaced the money. So, I disciplined him on Thursday.
“He
ran into the kitchen, and that was when I mistakenly poured the water on him.
“I
sell clothes at the Oyingbo Market. He is my domestic help. I brought him from
his village in Enugu State about four years ago. The boy is stubborn. I am not
a bad woman.”
The
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the
arrest, adding that the suspect would be charged to court.
She
said, “The suspect has been arrested, and she will be charged to court.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment